Keeneland catalogs 4,034 yearlings for September sale

Keeneland has announced that 4,034 yearlings, representing a sizeable percentage of the North American foal crop, have been cataloged for its bellwether September yearling sale, which will take place over 11 sessions from Sept. 13-24.

This sale falls at a time of change for Keeneland leadership, as this will be the first September auction for Keeneland's new vice president of sales, Tony Lacy, and director of sales operations, Cormac Breathnach. Longtime director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell remains on the team in a consulting role.\

“This is an exciting time at Keeneland,” Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin, who also assumed her role within the last year, sale in a press release. “We have initiated a number of new features to further enhance the September sale and facilitate the process for buyers and sellers with the goal of creating a consistent sale format each year and further ensuring a stable marketplace.”

The sale's elite Book 1 will open the sale over two sessions. The second Book 1 session, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, will be immediately followed by a new "RNA Reoffer" session. Yearlings who failed to meet their reserve during Monday's opening session, whose sellers may have felt disadvantaged by an early catalog placement, may be re-offered.

“As we strive to create a stable and consistent format for the September sale, we are aware of the fear that some consignors have about offering horses early in the catalog,” Breathnach said in a press release. “We are committed to addressing this concern and have created a safeguard to protect the best interests of the sellers.”

A two-session Book 2 will follow Book 1. Following a "dark day" on Friday, Sept. 17, the Keeneland sale will continue with its remaining three books.