2025 News
Summary of Thoroughbred Sales in Japan for 2024
By The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA)
| Offered (head) |
Number of sold |
Sales vs. offered ratio (%) |
Gross sales (yen) |
Average price (yen) |
Median price (yen) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foal | 291 | 283 | 97.3 | 19,773,600,000 | 69,871,378 | 46,200,000 |
| Yearling | 2,836 | 2,366 | 83.4 | 34,528,340,000 | 14,593,550 | 6,600,000 |
| 2-Y-O | 133 | 108 | 81.2 | 1,891,560,000 | 17,514,444 | 11,000,000 |
Note: Figures in bold exceeded the year-earlier result
General overview of thoroughbred foal sales in 2024
◆ The auctions achieved a strong result, with total sales exceeding 19.7 billion yen, and 97.3% of the foals were sold
◆ The highest price was 451,000,000 yen for a colt by Kitasan Black and Serienholde (GER)
As in 2023, thoroughbred foal sales in 2024 were held at two auctions: the Select Sale held under the auspices of the Japan Racing Horse Association (JRHA), and the Northern Farm Mixed Sale. Out of 291 foals (183 colts, 108 fillies) put up for auction, 283 (176 colts, 107 fillies) were sold. This corresponded to a sales vs. offered ratio of 97.3%, which reflected a 1.7 point increase from the previous year. Total sales were 19,773,600,000 yen, a 10.2% increase from the previous year. The average price rose to a record-high 69,871,378 yen, a 2.4% increase from the previous year, and the median price was 46,200,000 yen, a 13.5% increase from the previous year, matching the record high set two years ago. The number of foals sold for a price above 50 million yen was 134 (114 in the previous year), and the number of foals sold for a price above 100 million yen was 47 (37 in the previous year).
The highest price was 451,000,000 yen for a colt whose sire was Kitasan Black and whose dam was Serienholde (GER), purchased in the Select Sale by Toshihiko Tabata from Hyogo Prefecture. Among the fillies, the highest price was paid for a filly whose sire was Maurice and whose dam was Salonika, purchased for 242,000,000 yen by Hironobu Koyano in the Northern Farm Mixed Sale.
Reviewed by each sire in terms of average price, Gun Runner (USA) was tops with a foal sold for 330,000,000 yen, followed by Kingman (GB) in 2nd place with a foal sold for 209,000,000 yen, and Flightline (USA) (first crop; three foals put up for auction, all sold), the world’s highest-rated racehorse in 2022, in 3rd place, at 172,333,333 yen. Among domestic sires that produced their first crop, Makahiki occupied 1st place with a foal sold for 165,000,000 yen (4th place overall).
General overview of thoroughbred yearling sales in 2024
◆ Total sales were 34,528,340,000 yen, with the number of head sold, the sales vs. offered ratio, and other indicators rising to new records
◆ The highest price was 649,000,000 yen for a colt by Kitasan Black and Delphinia (IRE)
Thoroughbred yearling sales in 2024 were held at seven auctions across the country for 17 days, starting from the Kyushu Yearling Sale held on June 18 to the Hokkaido Autumn Sale held on October 16. All auctions were conducted as hybrid auctions. In the overall yearling sales, a total of 2,836 yearlings (1,512 colts, 1,324 fillies) were put up for auction, and 2,366 (1,313 colts, 1,053 fillies) were sold. While the number of yearlings put up for auction was slightly down, the number of sold set a record for the 16th consecutive year. The outcome reflected a sales vs. offered ratio of 83.4%, marking a 3.7 point increase from the previous year. Total sales were 34,528,340,000 yen (a 4.8% increase from the previous year), marking the 17th consecutive record high. The average price was 14,593,550 yen (a 3.2% increase from the previous year), remaining above the 10-million-yen level for the ninth consecutive year and marking the 10th consecutive record high. The median price was 6,600,000 yen, reflecting a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
As for the Select Sale by the JRHA, total sales were 15,946,700,000 yen, an 8.5% increase from the previous year, with the sales vs. offered ratio down 1.2 points from the previous year. In the Hokkaido Sale under the auspices of the Hidaka Horse Breeders’ Association (HBA), out of 2,544 yearlings put up for auction, 2,099 were sold, corresponding to a sales vs. offered ratio of 82.5%. Total sales were 18,431,490,000 yen (a 1.9% increase from the previous year), and the average price was 8,781,081 yen (a 0.5% increase from the previous year), setting a record high.
The highest price in a transaction at the Select Sale was 649,000,000 yen for a colt whose sire was Kitasan Black and whose dam was Delphinia (IRE), purchased by Rodeo Japan from Osaka Prefecture. Among the fillies, the highest price was 440,000,000 yen for a filly whose sire was Kitasan Black and whose dam was Ascolti, purchased for by Danox Co., Ltd. from Osaka Prefecture.
Reviewed by each sire in terms of average price, Epiphaneia topped at 172,530,769 yen (all 13 crops sold), followed by Contrail in 2nd place (all 12 crops sold), at 111,100,000 yen. Among the first crop sires, the aforementioned Contrail was tops, followed by Poetic Flare (IRE) (all six crops sold), at 29,058,333 yen (17th place overall).
General overview of thoroughbred two-year-old sales in 2024
◆ Total sales were 1,891,560,000 yen, down 10.2% from the previous year. The average price was 17,514,444 yen, up 21.4% from the previous year.
◆ The highest price was 121,000,000 yen for a filly by Nadal (USA) and Skratta.
Thoroughbred two-year-old sales in 2024 were held at two auctions over two days. For the two auctions, a total of 133 head (73 colts, 60 fillies) were put up for auction, and 108 (61 colts, 47 fillies) were sold. The sales vs. offered ratio was 81.2%, the second-highest level on record. Both auctions were held as hybrid auctions.
Total sales were 1,891,560,000 yen, a 10.2% decrease from the previous year. The outcome remained below the two-billion-yen level for the second consecutive year. On the other hand, the average price was 17,514,444 yen, a 21.4% increase from the previous year. The median price was 11,000,000 yen, a 25.0% increase from the previous year and the highest amount on record. Although the number of horses put up for auction was down, their valuations increased.
In the Hokkaido Training Sale, which was held for the ninth time at Sapporo Racecourse, out of 86 head (50 colts, 36 fillies) put up for auction, 61 (38 colts, 23 fillies) were sold, corresponding to a sales vs. offered ratio of 70.9%. Total sales were 465,740,000 yen, the average price was 7,635,081 yen, and the median price was 6,270,000 yen. Meanwhile, in the Chiba Thoroughbred Sale, all 47 head (23 colts, 24 fillies) put up for auction were sold. Total sales were 1,425,820,000 yen, the average price was 30,336,595 yen, and the median price was 24,200,000 yen.
The highest price was 121,000,000 yen for a filly whose sire was Nadal (USA) and whose dam was Skratta, purchased at the Chiba Thoroughbred Sale by Yosuke Imafuku from Tokyo. Among colts, the highest price was 92,400,000 yen for a colt whose sire was Rey de Oro and whose dam was Candy Nevada (ARG), purchased by Shorai Hayashida from Osaka Prefecture.
Reviewed by each sire in terms of average price, Nadal (USA) was tops with a head sold for 121,000,000 yen, followed by Rey de Oro in 2nd place with a head sold for 92,400,000 yen. Among first crop sires, the aforementioned Nadal (USA) was tops, followed by Admire Mars with a head sold for 55,000,000 yen (3rd place overall).For Further details, please visit the following sites.
| JBIS | https://www.jbis.jp/ |
| 2024 Sales Catalogues and Results (Foal, Yearling, Two-Year-Old) | |
| About Markets in Japan | |
| 2025 Sales Dates in Japan (JBIS) | |
| 2025 Sales Dates in Japan | |
