Format changes to Keeneland September and November sales

Keeneland made three sales-related developments on Thursday: a change to the week one format of its September Yearling Sale, the creation of a boutique one-day Book 1 session to kick off this year's November Breeding Stock Sale and the return of its April Sale next year.

Keeneland officials said these adjustments were made with input from participating consignors and buyers and reflect market trends.

"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'," said Bob Elliston, Keeneland vice-president of racing and sales. "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."

Keeneland changes reflect marketplace's ebb and flow

This year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale is scheduled for September 10-23 and will comprise 13 sessions, one more than last year.

The September Sale catalogue represents the cream of the North American yearling crop and attracts the industry's major buyers from across the US and around the world. Among the recent graduates of the sale are US Triple Crown hero Justify, the brilliant three-year-old filly Monomoy Girl and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn.

Keeneland will kick off its 2018 November Sale with an exclusive Book 1 session to be held Monday, November 5.

The November Sale, which features broodmares and broodmare prospects, weanlings, horses of racing age, stallions and stallion prospects, was led last year by champion Stellar Wind, who brought a final bid of $6 million.

Keeneland will reinstate the April Sale next year as a one-day auction of two-year-olds in training and horses of racing age. The sale has been on hiatus since 2015.

The sale will be accompanied by a one-day preview show. Dates for the preview day and sale will be announced at a later date.

April Sale graduates include Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, Preakness Stakes scorer Lookin At Lucky and Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown

With the return of the April Sale, Keeneland once again will conduct four annual horse sales. No changes are scheduled for the January Horses Of All Ages Sale, to be held next year on January 7-11.

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