Photos of the 2020 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale feature the animals that brought buyers there and the folks that make these events what they are.
Hot to pace
The 2020 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale in photos
Brian McInnis
October 14, 2020
It was a day of ups and downs at the 2020 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale at the Crapaud Exhibition Grounds last Friday.
High winds on the Confederation Bridge prevented 13 of the horses and their owners from getting to the sale. The auction for those yearlings was held Saturday morning.
But on the bright side, buyers turned out in full force setting Maritime records in several categories.
Hollis Newson of Kingston, P.E.I., bought Soul Assassin, the son of Malicious from breeder Gregory MacKenzie of Scotsburn, N.S., for a Maritime record price of $35,000.
Donald MacRae of Vernon, P.E.I., bought the top filly from the Robin Burke of Brackley consignment for $30,000 and Clare MacDonald and Wayne Burley were the winning bidders on Cadillac from breeder Eldred Nicholson of North Wiltshire for a Maritime record of $25,000 for a regionally sired trotter.
A horse handler adjusts the halter on Minority Tory before it enters the auction ring Friday. The auctioneer was Allison Smith, left and Vance Cameron was the pedigree reader who informed the buyers of each horse’s history. Minority Tory was consigned by Wilfred L. Poulton of Hazelbrook and sold for $17,500. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Daniel Ross, left, of Belfast and Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S., examine the program with the names and backgrounds of the horses that will be sold. They are both horse owners. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
These are young horses that never experienced anything quite like this sale so some were skittish and anxious about getting into the ring, and had to be coaxed to be calm. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Bid spotter Tim Parker shows his enthusiasm as he lets a bidder know their bid has been noted by the auctioneer. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Many of the spectators have their heads buried in the programs as they try to determine which horse they are interested in buying, much like studying a racing program at the track. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Before Bloyce Thompson became P.E.I.’s minister of agriculture, he worked selling cattle and horses, so he’s comfortable in the auction ring and working as a bid taker. He was at the sale Friday because a longtime friend who works the auctions was ill. Thompson said a bid taker has to know what to look for when spotting bids because horse buyers don’t want the other buyers to know they are bidding on a particular horse and so are discreet when letting the bid taker see they are bidding. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Cadillac shows its reluctance to go into the auction ring and groom Stephen Pineau has to use his horse handling skills. Cadillac, sold by Eldred B. Nicholson and Peter Buchanan of North Rustico, brought in $25,000, which is a Maritime record for a regionally sired trotter. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Robin Burke of Brackley, P.E.I., shows his horse Sports Affair to a prospective buyer. It sold for $20,000. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Bronwyn Crane and Bruce Wood, co-owners of Woodmere Farms in Marshfield, hold Woodmere Androlli that sold for $26,000. It was a good day for the farm. They sold seven horses with Woodmere Sheldon bringing $34,000. The average price for each horse was $24,714. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Sugary Sweet seems a little agitated as it passes another horse on its way back to the barn after its sale for $9,000. Sugary Sweet was consigned by J. Gregory MacKenzie of Scotsburn, N.S. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Auctioneer Allison Smith smiles as he communicates with a bidder during the final stages of the sale. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
Brian McInnis
Brian McInnis is a Charlottetown-based freelance photographer.
Besides CBC, he has done photo work for The Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Tourism P.E.I., City of Charlottetown, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. and many other national newspapers and magazines.
