One of the newest Augusta Futurity companion events continues to grow in stature.

The third annual Atlantic Coast Cutting Horse Association Subscribed Stallion Auction will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. The auction will be conducted by Ben Emison of Weatherford, Texas.

In 2006, a large crowd gathered to check out the auction, but not necessarily to buy, according to Futurity marketing director Noell Inman.

The following year, the mood changed.

"Last year, they were serious," Inman said. "It was a nice crowd, and they were there to buy."

In the inaugural auction, 43 breedings went for $92,000. For those foals, who will be 4-year-olds in 2011, the initial incentive fund will offer more than $55,000.

Inman said the incentive fund increases to $88,000 for 2012.

"My goal is to build to a $100,000 fund," she said.

In 2007, the program collected $172,000, almost twice as much as the previous year. Owners donate breeding services of 86 stallions.

Stallion services (one breeding per stallion) are donated to the ACCHA. The donated services are then offered for sale through the auction.

Entering this year's Futurity, 85 stallions are up for bid. Inman said she expected to add a handful more during the show.

Inman expects Peptoboonsmal and One Time Pepto to be the highest-earning breedings.

"These two," she said, "are going to be head to head."

In 2007, Peptoboonsmal, a 1992 red road stallion by Peppy San Badger out of Royal Blue Boon, drew the highest bid at $15,000. His offspring have earned more than $8.2 million.

For more information, check out the Stallion booth on the mezzanine level of James Brown Arena.

For a list of stallions up for bid, go to: www.augustafuturity.com/2008/08stallion_list.shtml.

From the Sunday, January 20, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle