Keeneland sale ends way up

Keeneland concluded its five-day January horses of all ages sale Friday with across-the-board increases.

Keeneland sold 1,258 horses for gross sales of $49,344,900, an increase of 58 percent from the 2003 auction. The average price of $39,225 and the median of $13,000 also rose sharply, climbing 49 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

Friday's final day, when a larger percentage of low-end horses are sold, posted gains from the corresponding session last year, although not to the extent of sessions earlier in the week. Friday saw 255 horses sell for gross receipts of $1,982,300, an increase of 29 percent. The average price rose 14 percent to $7,744 and the median of $3,800 was up 1 percent.

Friday's sale-topper was the last horse to enter the sales ring: At Night, a full sister to stakes winner Musafi. A 4-year-old daughter of Dayjur, she was consigned by Hopewell Farm and sold to Future Star Inc. for $80,000.