When Ohio-bred Harlan’s Holiday was going to post as the favorite in the 2002 Kentucky Derby, on the national broadcast trainer Kenny McPeek was asked about his colt’s place of birth. “He’s from Ohio, not Mars! The only thing that separates the states is a river.” Years before, McPeek began his training career at River Downs where he could look up in the mornings and see the hills of Kentucky across the Ohio River. Fast forward to 2024 and we have another Ohio-bred, Jonathan’s Way, grabbing headlines and Kentucky Derby points with an authoritative win in the Grade 2 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.  Ohio-breeders are hoping this positive light on state-breds will attract buyers to the newly formed Buckeye Classic Thoroughbred Sale. The only live auction in the state is set to take place Thursday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.  Supported by the Ohio HBPA, yearlings will dominate the sales ring as seventy-three are being offered in the catalogue.   Owner-breeder Steven Chumney is one of the principles coordinating the Buckeye Classic Thoroughbred Sale. “From the beginning, this sale came together with people in the industry who volunteered on every level to make it work. It’s reflected by the positive response we’ve had from the Ohio breeders.  We have over 20 breeders represented,” stated Chumney who breeds and races as Smokin C LLC.  Chumney is very familiar with the sales arena as a buyer and a seller, and last week he sold two of his Ohio-breds at the Keeneland Sale.  A filly by Midshipman out of Hula Skirt that sold for $170,000 after a son of Practical Joke out of Candy Lane sold for $95,000. An Ohio native, Chumney owns 30 thoroughbreds and participates in all levels of the game.  “I’m certainly pleased with the sale of these horses on a commercial level, but I may never get to watch them run. My home-breds have been exported to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and to racing homes across the United States. Selling my horses at the Buckeye Classic pretty much guarantees that they will compete in Ohio.” In the past month Chumney saw two home-bred fillies win stakes races in Ohio, four-year-old Factisimflashy and Generous Lover. “Our sale is a quality mix of the top accredited horses in the state with proven producing mares by the leading Ohio sires like Dominus, National Flag and Mobil, as well as registered yearlings that represent proven Kentucky sires.”  Chumney backs up his statement with his four entries in the sale.  His Accredited offerings are by Ohio stallions National Flag and Indy Wind.  Smokin C’s registered yearlings are represented with a colt by Alternation out of stakes winner Ting Tang and a Goldencents filly out of graded stakes winner Dundalk Dust.  Many horses will be available for preview on Wednesday, October 16.  The sale will also offer online bidding at www.RES.bid.  Early bidding will be available starting October 7 through the sales day.  The Buckeye Classic Thoroughbred Sale catalogue is currently online at www.ohio-hbpa.com, available on the Jockey Club app, and catalogues will also be available at the HBPA offices in Columbus, Belterra Park, Thistledown and Mahoning Valley. For additional information about the sale please email smokincllc@gmail.com