 All Thoroughbreds in the Northern Hemisphere have an official birth date of January 1 but Northern Dancer was foaled late in the season, on May 27, 1961.Younger than most of his age cohort, he was only high when Windfields Farm offered all of its yearlings for sale at its annual auction.Thus, despite a strong pedigree and good conformation, Northern Dancer did not find a buyer at his C$25,000 reserve price.