All is set and ready for Yearling Sale 2013 which will be held in the official car park at Caymanas Park on Sunday November 10, the day after the big Superstakes meet is run.

cprogress of the sale, 153 lots were being offered. That number has now increased to 157 as indicated in the official sale catalogue. President of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), Howard Hamilton, says while he is happy with this marginal increase, the number of yearlings being offered is still not enough.

“We are still producing far too few horses to sustain racing over the long term. But in saying that I am also acutely aware of the challenges breeding establishments have in maintaining their operations under the harsh economic pressures we are currently facing. It is difficult, but we trod along in the hope that things will get better, and TOBA will continue to make representation on behalf of the breeders for this to happen,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton says his association is constantly lobbying government to remove or significantly reduce the heavy tax on the importation of foreign horses.

“This is a major burden for breeders. Just like how manufacturing businesses have to retool, we have to enhance the stock on the breeding farms and we are not being helped with this heavy tax,” the TOBA president said.

As to this year’s sales, Hamilton is confident that all is in place for a successful day.

“We at TOBA are ready, as everything is in place for Sunday, November 10. The sale catalogues are already printed and available, plus there is some excitement as a number of good stallions will be making their debut with their first crop of yearlings. I encourage all to support the sales, as you may be buying the Derby winner in 2015,” Hamilton said.

Sale catalogues are being sold at the Racing Office, the Tact Shop located at Caymanas Park and on racedays in the main stands.