The 2004 TQHA Yearling Sale was held this weekend at Sam Houston Race Park and attracted a record number of horses and buyers. The sale was held inside the air-conditioned Pavilion Centre, with a record 385 yearlings passing through the sales ring. TQHA officials estimated that total sales would exceed $3.2 million, surpassing the record of $2,436,200 set at the 2003 TQHA Yearling Sale.

The sale topper was Hip Number 298, Rapid Red Perry, a sorrel colt bred by Robert and Cindy Zoch of Lincoln, Texas. George Temple and John McCall of Dallas signed the $140,000 ticket on the son Mr Jess Perry, the highest in the history of the seven-year TQHA Yearling Sale. Mr Jess Perry was a champion 2-year-old in 1994 and has sired 39 stakes winners including Jess Louisiana Blue, Pretty Boy Perry and Jess Maid Magic.

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, 247 passed through the sales ring in 2002 and last year's sale featured 253 yearlings.

The previous sale topper came from the 2003 TQHA Yearling Sale. Janet Van Bebber bid $75,000 on another son of Mr Jess Perry, Captain Perry.

"This continues to be a great partnership between the Texas Quarter Horse Association and Sam Houston Race Park," said Rob Werstler, director of racing for the TQHA. "We attracted a number of quality horses and horsemen from not only Texas, but all over the country. Even though Mother Nature blew our tent away last Thursday, the weather has been great over this weekend."

The yearlings purchased in the 2004 TQHA Yearling Sale will be eligible to run in the $100,000-added TQHA Sales Futurity (RG1) at Sam Houston Race Park next July.