You are here
Horse Sellers Celebrate 25 Years of Success
Horses like those that run in the annual Ocala Breeders' Sales Classic have been sold by the de Merics. (AP Images)
Pinhookers Nick and Jaqui de Meric are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and the start of their career in selling 2-year-old horses. A filly named Arctic Moment, who was offered during the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. was the first horse the de Merics sold together. “She brought $30,000, and we thought that was huge,” Jaqui said. “We bought a car and then we got married in June.”
In 2006, the de Merics sold their most expensive horse ever, Belgravia. Irish agent Demi O’Byrne purchased the son of Mr. Greeley or $2 million.
“For me,” Nick said, “the most satisfying thing has been a toss-up between seeing graduates of our program go on and race at the highest level, which is a tremendous thrill, and selling a horse like Belgravia for $2 million. They are almost equally gratifying. And to have a horse like Belgravia go on and do well is doubly gratifying.”
Jaqui sees things a little different, “My favorite thing in the whole business is starting the babies ,” she said. “I love that. I’m very into that. But I think one of the most satisfying things is seeing our kids doing it now. That’s the most thrilling. We have two - a daughter, Alexandra, who’s 22, and a son, Tristan, who’s going to be 21. Alexandra is in college, and she’s been doing the sales forever. Tristan just picked it up a year and a half ago and now he’s as gung-ho about selling horses as his father. That’s probably the most exciting thing, seeing our kids get involved.
“One thing that is interesting,” Jaqui added, “is that when we first starting doing this, there were very few couples. And now you look around and everybody is a couple. I think we started a trend. I also think we’re the longest surviving couple in the whole business,” she said with a laugh.
According to Nick their decision to make a living in the thoroughbred business, has been a wonderful experience with no regrets.
“I was once quoted as saying that it takes a certain kind of fool to play this game, and we definitely qualify,” he said. “If you’re someone who likes the middle ground, that safe existence, this is not the business for you. But if you can live with the lows and get your thrills from the highs and still keep a modicum of sanity in the process, there is no business like it. The thrill of the good times makes up for the lower moments. It really it does take a certain kind of person to do this, and if you’re that kind of person, there’s no doing anything else after you’ve tried it.”
Nick is looking forward for his children to possible carry on the family’s pinhooking business since he doesn’t exactly want to commit to another 25 years of selling 2-year-olds.
“There is another generation coming up, and it would be nice to feel that they can become increasingly involved,” he said. “At that point, maybe there will be an opportunity for us to become a little less involved.”
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales in Central Florida, on Tuesday and Wednesday will feature more than 30 of the de Merics horses.
Their 25th wedding anniversary celebration will be held in the Caribbean in June with a giant party. At this time the de Merics are anticipating being able to spend some time sailing in the Caribbean where they have an island home.