The Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall Yearlings Sale, reverting to its former name, will be held Tuesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium under a new format and weeks later than its traditional spot on the calendar. The one-day auction's catalogue has been structured to give each of the region's state-bred programs its own section. The catalogue of 265 yearlings will open 34 offerings bred in non-Eastern states and will continue with offerings of Massachusetts-breds (hips 5, 30 and 31); Maryland-breds (hips 35-130); New Jersey-breds (hips 131-138); New York-breds (hips 139-172); Pennsylvania-breds (hips 173-214); Virginia-breds (hips 215-230); and West Virginia-breds (hips 231-239).“I think the new format will help,” said consignor Chris Gracie, whose Gracie Bloodstock will offer 42 yearlings at the sale. “There are a lot of state-breds and I think this will help people separate the different regions of the Midatlantic that they are in. As a consignor, it also makes it easier to put trainers and buyers from those different racetracks on the right horses.”Consignor Clovis Crane also said he was supportive of the sale's new format.“It makes it simple for those buyers that are buying specifically for the region they are in,” Crane said. “It makes it simple for them to pay attention at that specific time that those horses are selling. Fasig makes a lot of changes to try to adjust and get better all the time. I hope this is just another improvement.”While the revamped auction highlights its regional buying base, the sale will still offer plenty to pinhookers and other buyers from outside the regional market, according to Crane.“You still have your Kentucky horses in there, you have some RNAs from Keeneland,” Crane said. “There are a bunch of good horses in there. And it has been proven time and time again, there are some really good horses that come out of this sale. There is always going to be a demand for those regional horses because they've been so successful over the years.”The Midlantic yearling sale has typically been held at the end of September or early October and now finds itself placed at the end of the month as the final yearling sale of the season and just a week before Fasig-Tipton's November sale opens the bloodstock sales. The later date places the auction two days after Jim McKay Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park.“I like the later date,” Crane said. “And I think the regional people will like it better, too. The Kentucky horses, because of the bluegrass, they are a little earlier developing than our horses. So it gives a little more time to develop those horses and bring them along.”The Eastern Fall Yearlings Sale will also highlight the various state-bred programs, as well as the certified programs of Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia which offer incentives to horses bred anywhere who have resided in that state for a period of time.Gracie, based in Middleburg, Virginia, will offer several yearlings who are Virginia certified at the auction.“I think the Virginia certified program has picked up a lot of momentum,” Gracie said. “A lot of people are starting to realize the value in it. And a lot of trainers are starting to use Colonial to get more stalls at racetracks. It's good money. You are starting to see these guys target these horses, whether they are Kentucky-bred, Virginia certified or bred in the Midatlantic and Virginia certified.”Bidding on the one-session auction begins at 11 a.m.The post New (Old) Name, New Date, New Format: Fasig-Tipton Easter Fall Yearlings Sale Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.