Bonus extension and format change for Keeneland September

This year’s renewal of the world’s biggest yearling sale at Keeneland in September boasts a 4,139-lot catalogue, a revised format and a pair of new bonus programmes.

The catalogue goes online on Tuesday and as well as featuring all the top American sires, including the last major offering of Scat Daddy’s final yearlings, the top European stallions such as Dubawi, Frankel, Galileo and Invincible Spirit all feature.

The sale has been reformatted this year, kicking off with a select Book 1 on Monday, September 11, that has 167 lots catalogued. The expanded three-day Book 2 has 1,036 entries and - after a break day on Friday, September 15 - the marathon event continues through until Saturday, September 23.

“These changes reflect Keeneland’s efforts to streamline operations for our clients and to provide the deepest buying bench possible,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales operations.

“Buyers tell us about their travel challenges and limited availability to attend the sale. For their convenience, we doubled the number of exceptional yearlings catalogued before the week one break on Friday.”

Keeneland had already announced a Book 1 bonus, which could reward buyers and sellers to the tune of $500,000, and this week revealed another incentive to vendors applicable throughout the 13-day sale.

The seller bonus provides a cash payment of up to $10,000 to the owner, at the time of sale, of any subsequent Group winner in a major racing country, including Britain, France, Germany, Ireland and Italy.

“The positive support from horsemen with regard to the Book 1 Bonus, announced in April, prompted Keeneland to fast-track the rollout of the programme’s second tier, the Seller Bonus,” explained Bob Elliston, Keeneland’s vice-president of racing and sales.

The two bonuses’ funding is entirely coming from Keeneland, who expect to invest around $1.1 million this year and $1.9m per annum in 2018 and beyond.

“Based on race results from 2015 and 2016, Keeneland projects it will pay nearly $3m in cash rewards over the programme’s first two years to the sellers and owners of graduates of this year’s September Sale,” added Elliston.

Keeneland September website