Back in harness

Western Fair District welcomes back standardbred yearling sales for 2022

FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR disruption to its annual fall fair and trade show events, the Western Fair District (WFD) announced on Thursday it will return one of its signature fall events to live format with the launch of the new London Classic Yearling Sale, which will take place Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, October 19 at the Agriplex.

A multi-million-dollar event for the standardbred horse racing industry, the new event represents a departure from the traditional weekend format. The event was last held live in 2019, with nearly $6.3 million in sales and 291 young racehorses sold.

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“I am excited to take-on the re-launch of the sale for WFD and the goal will be to ensure it meets our standards, and that of the industry, and I sincerely believe the industry will receive this news well and support us in 2022 and into the future,” says Greg Blanchard, director of sales and retail.

Standardbred yearling sales have continued through the pandemic but have relied on virtual transactions. According to a release from the WFD, it will “conduct and manage an annual yearling sale reinforcing its commitment to the provincial and Canadian standardbred industry. The yearling auction will benefit from its return to a single-venue format with a new and trusted operator.”