Keeneland September surpasses 2025 sale to become most successful Thoroughbred auction of all time

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland’s 2026 September yearling sale concluded Saturday after 12 sessions that produced a record-setting market, surpassing the auction’s previous worldwide record set just one year ago. The sale generated the highest through-the-ring gross ever recorded at a Thoroughbred auction worldwide — $536,737,900 — and set a record with 70 yearlings selling for $1 million or more. Leading the way was a $3.7 million Into Mischief colt purchased by M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm.

For the sale held Sept. 14-26, total through-the-ring sales for 2,856 horses were 5.14% above last year’s $510,517,900 for 2,903 yearlings. Gross sales this year increased to $558,313,400 when the additional $21,575,500 in post sales reported to date are added.

The average of $187,933 increased 6.87% from $175,859 last year, while the median rose 6.25% from $80,000 in 2025 to $85,000 this year.

“It’s incredible to think that we set a world record for a Thoroughbred auction just one year ago, and now we’ve surpassed it,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “That speaks to the extraordinary quality of the horses, the strength of the global buying bench and, most importantly, the people who make the September Sale what it is. We are deeply grateful to the breeders, consignors, buyers, agents and everyone who comes together to create this remarkable marketplace. What happens here is truly unique, and the market created at Keeneland in September simply cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.”

September Sale records in sales through the ring were set in the following categories:

• Number of yearlings sold for $1 million or more (70) bested the previous record 56 last year.

• Number of horses sold for $1 million or more during a single session (23 on Day 2).

• Record session average and median ($739,897/$625,000) from opening day.

• For the sixth year in a row, a record cumulative average of $187,933 was established.

• Cumulative median price of $85,000 rose 6.25% over last year’s $80,000 and set a record for the third consecutive year.

“The numbers can only be described as incredible,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “We saw consistency through the books. Premium prices were strong for horses that were popular with buyers. Overall, the consensus was that it was an incredibly successful sale. The market is holding very, very strong, while the industry is perceived in a positive light. This is really encouraging. It’s really positive to see all sectors of the industry — of the market — being rewarded for a good horse because they deserve it.”