Keeneland tweaks September, November sales, brings back April sale

Keeneland made three significant announcements regarding its annual sales on Thursday, as it continues to adjust the format of its bellwether September yearling sale, will further spotlight star offerings at the November breeding stock sale, and will revive an April sale of racehorses.

These adjustments were made with input from participating consignors and buyers and reflect market trends, Keeneland officials said in a release.

“Keeneland engages in an ongoing dialogue with our clients to collect their feedback and adapt our sales formats to meet the ‘market of the moment,’ ” Keeneland vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston said. “The market is fluid from year to year, and our primary goal is to create a sales environment that will produce the best results for our sellers and buyers.”

The Keeneland September yearling sale, which annually tests the market at all levels as it attracts both domestic and global end users and pinhookers, will begin with an expanded edition of its marquee Book 1, offering approximately 1,000 yearlings in four sessions Sept. 10-13.

Following a dark day, the auction will continue with two Book 2 sessions, and the sale will continue with Books 3 to 6 through Sept. 23, for a total of 13 sessions. That is one more session than last year, when Keeneland condensed Book 1 to a single highly select session and expanded Book 2 to three days; the front-loaded auction created a trickle-down effect that generated record average and median sale prices and pushed the auction's total revenue past $300 million for the first time since 2008.

The 2017 edition of Keeneland September introduced a bonus system for buyers and sellers of its stakes-winning graduates, which continues in 2018.

The Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which similarly tests its market at many levels over the course of about two weeks, will become more selective with its marquee Book 1 offerings, cutting down that portion of the auction from two days to a single session on Monday, Nov. 5. The complete schedule for the sale will be announced at a later date.

The Keeneland November sale traditionally garners added luster from the Breeders' Cup, with mares exiting various races to be sold in Kentucky and close relatives of winners also picking up catalog updates. Keeneland picks up additional momentum as the market is usually established one night prior at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky fall selected mixed sale across town, which also gets catalog updates from the Breeders' Cup. This year's races will be held Nov. 2-3 at Churchill Downs.

Looking further ahead on the calendar, Keeneland will reinstate its April sale in 2019 as an auction of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age. Dates for the sale and under-tack preview show will be announced at a later date.

Keeneland conducted its April sale of 2-year-olds in training from 1993 to 2014, after which the auction went on hiatus.

“Keeneland’s April sale produced a number of champions and classic winners, including 2017 champions Lady Eli and Roy H in its final edition in 2014,” Elliston said. “Horsemen are very supportive of the sale returning this spring, and we are excited to expand the auction from previous years by offering a limited number of horses of racing age.”