Loren Combs has been a fixture at Hoosier Park for two decades. He is a well-respected blacksmith and friend to many. A series at Hoosier Park was named in his honor and now, a horse will carry on his name. Combs Hanover, named after Loren, was part of the first day of the week-long sale for the Standardbred Horse Sale at the Harrisburg, Pa. at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.
Longtime horseman and blacksmith Loren Combs stands with his namesake, Combs Hanover, prior to the yearling going through the sale ring at the Standardbred Horse Sale. (Photo by Emily Hay)
Consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms, Combs Hanover, Hip No. 19, was purchased for $35,000 by Chris Storms of Ontario. The trotting colt is by Archangel and is Ontario eligible. His dam, Chez Lucie, has already produced several winners under the 2:00 mark, including Chezatter, who has a mark of 1:52 and earnings in excess of $200,000. In customary fashion, Hanover Shoe Farms always names its foals with the first word bearing the same letter as the dam. Therefore, Combs Hanover emerged and will hopefully be on track in 2019 to honor Indiana’s Combs.
A total of 13 Indiana sired yearlings are included in the long-running sale. The first to sell was a Rockin Image colt, The Candyman Can, who was purchased by Burke Racing Stable for $55,000. Other early sellers in the sale included the Rockin Image colt, Pash, who brought $70,000 and was purchased by Bruce Saunders, a Swan for All filly, Miss Caledonia, who brought $18,000 and was purchased by Burke Racing Stable, and Sugar Cookie, an Always A Virgin filly purchased for $40,000 b Jim Averitt of Kentucky.
In addition, several Indiana connections are at the sale with yearlings being purchased by buyers including Verlin Yoder, Lynn Wilfong and the DeLong family, just to name a few. The sale continues through Friday, Nov. 9 with the final two days dedicated to breeding stock and racehorses.