Tony Lacy named Keeneland director of sales; Geoffrey Russell retiring

LEXINGTON, Ky. - As Keeneland continues to develop its sales operations under new leadership, it will do so with a new face at the helm, but one who is familiar in the bloodstock community. Keeneland announced Monday that bloodstock adviser and consignor Tony Lacy will join the company as vice president of sales. Meanwhile, director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell will retire from his full-time position after 25 years with Keeneland, but will remain in a consulting role through 2021.

“Tony possesses a well-rounded knowledge of the Thoroughbred industry, bolstered by valuable insight and a unique skill set gained from having worked on the ground in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East,” Shannon Arvin, who officially assumed the role of Keeneland's president and CEO in January, said in a release. “He is an established presence globally and connects to a vast network of owners, trainers, consignors, and buyers..”

Lacy, along with Kerry Cauthen, helped establish Four Star Sales in 2001. They eventually developed the company into a leading North American consignor with a diverse client portfolio. Since 2008, Lacy has been the North American representative for the French Thoroughbred sales company Arqana.

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He joins the Keeneland team as the sales company experienced a season of change while navigating the global coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions caused by the pandemic led Keeneland to expedite the process of developing an online sales platform that it had been considering. Under Arvin's stewardship, online bidding has now been integrated into Keeneland's traditional live sales, and the company also holds several stand-alone digital sales.

“I am extremely honored to be named vice president of sales for Keeneland,” Lacy said. “Keeneland is a pillar of the global horse industry, and I have a high level of respect for Shannon, the team she is building, and her vision for the future.

“I believe my background as a consignor and bloodstock adviser will allow me to understand the needs of our sales participants, continue to build on the best of our traditions and pursue innovations that will keep the company dynamic in a changing environment.”

Lacy, a fourth-generation horseman, began his career with Thoroughbreds in his native Ireland, riding as a steeplechase jockey and working as an assistant trainer to his father. He later worked for trainers in France and Dubai. He gained experience in U.S. sales and breeding through his work for the Greely family’s Wintergreen Farm and while overseeing sales horses for noted 2-year-olds in training consignor Jerry Bailey in Ocala.

Lacy, in addition to his work advising and managing prominent breeding and racing programs, has counseled and represented Emirates Racing and the Dubai World Cup in the U.S. He also advised the French Thoroughbred industry’s marketing arm, the French Breeding and Racing Committee, as well as France Galop (French Jockey Club). Lacy is the incoming president of the Thoroughbred Club of America, and also serves on the board of New Vocations.

Russell has been the director of sales at Keenealnd the past 20 seasons, the longest of anyone in Keeneland history.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to work at Keeneland,” Russell said. “I appreciate all the opportunities that Keeneland has given me over my 25 years here. I never thought I would work at Keeneland – and never as director of sales nor being the longest-tenured one.

“With Shannon at the helm – and I firmly believe she is the right person to lead Keeneland – I feel that this is a good time for a transition as Keeneland looks to the next 20 years.”

Russell, a native of Ireland, often attended the races growing up and learned about Thoroughbred pedigrees via a friend whose family owned racehorses. Russell said he decided he wanted to work in sales in the 1970s when watching the legendary Sir Philip Payne-Gallway buy a full sister to English Horse of the Year Shirley Heights for a then-record price in Ireland. He worked for Coolmore Stud in Ireland, at Goffs sales company, at Elmendorf Farm, and at Fasig-Tipton before joining Keeneland.

During his tenure, Russell helped navigate Keeneland through a number of external challenges caused by significant industry and world events such as Sept. 11, 2001, mare reproductive loss syndrome, an economic recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic.