OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JANUARY 19, 2017—Boosted by a large crowd of sale goers, Heritage Place Sale Company kicked off their 38th edition of the Winter Mixed Sale on Thursday in Oklahoma City with a significant rise in the opening day median price compared to the same day last year.

The 2017 opening day saw 229 head of the 270 offered gross $2,348,300 and average $10,255. Last year's opening session had 237 head sell from 268 offered for $2,469,453 gross and a $10,420 average. The median price of $7,000 was up from $6,000 during the same period last year.

''We sold 85% of our horses today and we were just $93 a head off from last year's sale," Heritage Place General Manager Spence Kidney said Thursday evening. ''We are super excited about the crowd we had today and look forward to a great weekend.''

H & E Ranch Inc. paid $54,000 for Hip 243 Eyesa Good One, a stakes-placed G1 finalist by leading sire First Down Dash from the Grade 2 winner Eyesa Jumpn, by Eyesa Special. The bay mare raced to 4, through 2016, and earned $38,790. She is a sister to 2016 Firecracker Futurity(G2) winner Platinum FDD. Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent was the consignor.

Randy Hill paid $50,000 for the top selling short-yearling on day 1, Hip 282 Coronado Country. The filly is from the first sale crop by Coronado Cartel out of the multiple stakes producing Country Chicks Man mare First Prize Chic. Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent was the consignor.

Javier Ruiz was the leading buyer in the opening session with two head for $64,000. Fabian Hernandez signed the ticket on five purchases totaling $60,000 and Melvin Neugebuaer paid $60,000 for two head.

Marty Powers, Agent, was the first day leading consignor or agent with 20 head grossing $266,300. Lazy E Ranch, LLC, Agent had 14 head for $256,200 and 6666 Ranch, Agent for Muller Racing LLC sold seven head for $113,000.

First crop sale sire Coronado Cartel led all sale sires (by average with two or more sold) on the opening day with two yearlings averaging $29,000. First Moonflash had three yearling average $12,067 and FDD Dynasty has three head average $11,067.

Favorite Cartel was the opening day leading covering sire (by average with two or more sold) with three in-foal mares averaging $22,333. One Dashing Eagle had two for $14,250 and first crop sire Wagon Tales had two mares average $13,750.

For preliminary results from day, including Hip-by-Hip results CLICK HERE.

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Friday's second session kicks off promptly at 10:00 a.m. (CST) and will offer Hips 299 thru 597. Saturday's three sessions session will offer Hips 598 thru 915.

AQHA will host a "Hispanic Open Forum" at 8:30 am, prior to the start of Friday's session. The forum will recognize the impact that Hispanic involvement has on the American Quarter Horse racing industry, and to allow members and horsemen to discuss how the Association can better serve its racing community. For additional information CLICK HERE.

The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) will host a reception in conjunction with the "Race Trackers Reunion" following Friday's session.

The Winter Mixed catalog is available for download at the Heritage Place website www.heritageplace.com and is also available for download through RGP Catalog App. Search for RGP Catalog App on iTunes or Google Play.