Forty Niner

[Mahubah]

Does anyone remember how much Forty Niner was originally sold to Japan for? Also, any updates on his stud career there?

[FOS]

hi Mahubah

To the best of my recollection...some thoroughbred news sources reported that Forty Niner was sold for $10mil.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[Mahubah]

Thanks!

[LaTroienne]

hi Mahubah

To the best of my recollection...some thoroughbred news sources reported that Forty Niner was sold for $10mil.

Best to you.

Respectfully

I do not think that is correct, because the TT reported:

Taylor Made Farm is exploring the possibility of purchasing champion and former Kentucky stallion Forty Niner, but owner Shizunai Stallion Station of the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association is not yet interested in selling.

Duncan Taylor, president of Taylor Made Farm, confirmed that the Kentucky-based operation is interested in the 17-year-old son of Mr. Prospector but that reports a deal is complete or imminent are premature.

"This all came about because of a false report that was printed in Japan and Europe that said we had submitted a [$10-million] offer for [Forty Niner]," Taylor said. "Yes, we do have an interest in him, but we're looking at a lot of different interests. As of right now, there is nothing confirmed that the horse is for sale."

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todays ... 2002#23676

You may've gotten values mixedup.

[FOS]

hi La Troienne

The Thoroughbred Times article that you linked is not related to Forty Niner's initial sale by Claiborne Farm to Japanese interests.

As I recall there was (years ago) an article in which Seth Hancock was interviewed, in which he acknowledged that Claiborne/Hancock sold Forty Niner for $10mil to Japanese interests. In the article, as I recall, Seth H indicated that Claiborne wanted to raise some money to invest in other young stallion prospects.

I sensed that explanation was partial spin (at least to an extent), and suggest it was more likely that since Forty Niner had been extremely quiet for an extended period, that Claiborne/Hancock decided to get the cash while the gettin' was good. Forty Niner was NOT a syndicated horse (he was the property of the Hancocks) and it was a rather easy transaction...certainly easier than had he been syndicated and subject to a syndicate agreement.

It was years after that sale of Forty Niner, by Claiborne/Hancock to Japanese interests, that rumors spread that he might be coming back to the USA. It never came to pass though.

Again...I am not certain that $10mil was the price paid by Japanese interests to purchase Forty Niner from Claiborne...but I am quite confident that it was.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[geowarrior]

My understanding of his more recent situation was that he was having fertility problems. I keep hoping to hear that he has been retired and that Old Friends Equine is going to get him back, as they keep tabs on all U.S. stallions in Japan and other countries who might be retired. He hasn't been mentioned in their newsletters, though, and I haven't heard anything more than the initial report of infertility (can't remember when).

[FOS]

hi Mahubah...hello LaTroienne...hi geowarrior

I've linked (below) a 2002 Blood-Horse article which (among other things) references (in paragraph 7 of the article) the sale of Forty Niner by Claiborne to Japaneses interests for the sum of $10,000,000.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=13336

I hope this helps.

Respectfully

[Mahubah]

Just what I needed, thanks!