The 2003 TQHA Yearling Sale was held on Saturday, July 26, at Sam Houston Race Park and attracted a record number of Quarter horses and buyers. The sale was held inside the air-conditioned Pavilion Centre, with a record 250 yearlings passing through the sales ring and total sales of $2.4 million, surpassing the record of $2.1 million set at the 2002 TQHA Yearling Sale.

The sale topper was Hip Number 152, Captain Perry, a sorrel colt foaled on January 1. Janet Van Bebber was the high bidder on the son of Mr Jess Perry, finishing the bidding at $75,000. Mr Jess Perry was a champion 2-year-old in 1994 and has sired 27 stakes winners including Jess Louisiana Blue, Pretty Boy Perry and Bugs By Yawl.

Sam Houston Race Park has hosted the TQHA Yearling Sale since 1998, when 96 horses passed through the ring. In 1999, there were 156 yearlings in the sale and the 2000 sale grew to 197 American Quarter Horses. The sale continues to grow, as the 2001 TQHA Yearling Sale attracted a record 211 horses and last year’s sale featured 247.

The yearlings purchased in the 2003 TQHA Yearling Sale are eligible to run in the $100,000-added TQHA Sales Futurity (RG1) at Sam Houston Race Park next July. On July 12, No Fees, a filly purchased by Bobby Cox at the 2002 TQHA Yearling Sale for $20,000, won the 2003 TQHA Sales Futurity. Trained by John Buchanan, the gray filly earned $101,220 for the stakes victory, increasing her total bankroll to $145,020.