'A vibrant marketplace unlike anything in the world' - Keeneland comes under orders with European interest at the top end

The world’s biggest auction of thoroughbreds, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, gets under way on Monday, with the action continuing through six books of trade until the curtain comes down on Saturday week.

A total of 4,407 yearlings were catalogued for 12 sessions of selling, with two days being given over to each of the six books.

“This time of year energises Keeneland and our entire industry as we prepare to showcase an outstanding collection of quality yearlings, and welcome many domestic and international horsemen and horsewomen to Lexington to participate in a vibrant marketplace unlike anything in the world,” said Keeneland president and chief executive Shannon Arvin. 

“Having achieved some of its strongest results in recent years and with an established record of successful graduates, the September Sale is a must-attend event for buyers and sellers around the world.”  

Grade 1 winners in 2024 who are alumni of the September Sale include Book 1 horses Arthur’s Ride (Whitney), Leslie’s Rose (Ashland), Newgate (Santa Anita Handicap) and Raging Sea (Personal Ensign), and Book 2 representatives Dornoch (Belmont and Haskell) and Randomized (Ogden Phipps).

The September Sale has also produced additional Grade/Group 1 winners this year in Vahva (Derby City Distaff) and Mullikin (Forego) from Book 3; Muth (Arkansas Derby), Iscreamuscream (Del Mar Oaks) and Power Squeeze (Alabama) from Book 4; Du Jour (Frank E Kilroe Mile) and Kabirkhan (Al Maktoum Challenge) from Book 5; and Tuz (Dubai Golden Shaheen) from Book 6.

Graduates of the September Sale have won in excess of 250 stakes races around the world this year, with notable victories across North America as well as in Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Kazakhstan and Korea.

The blue-chip Book 1 sessions begin at 1pm ET (6pm BST) on Monday and Tuesday, with 181 and 182 yearlings allocated to each day.

Two days of Book 2 follow, before a dark day on Friday, with the sale resuming on Saturday with the first of eight more days of trade.

“Spanning two weeks and six books, the September Sale caters to buyers at every level, offering yearlings that fit various price points in each session,” said Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy. 

Tony Lacy: "As the quality of entries continues to rise, so does the competition"Credit: Keeneland photo

“As the quality of entries continues to rise, so does the competition. Shopping on the grounds from Book 1 to Book 6 provides buyers with the chance to find everything on their shortlists and more. 

“Last year, we were excited to see prominent buyers signing tickets not only on the first day of the sale but all the way through to the final day.” 

The 2023 Keeneland September Sale concluded with 2,884 horses changing hands over the 12 days of selling from the 3,448 to go under the hammer. Aggregate sales were $408,054,900, which equated to an average price of $141,489 and a median of $67,000. 

The sale saw 30 yearlings sell for $1 million or more, the same as in 2022, and 171 horses go for $500,000-plus. Lane’s End’s Into Mischief half-brother to Grade 1 winner and sire Outwork topped the sale at $3m, with Terry Finley signing on behalf of a partnership comprising Chuck Sonson, Woodford Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds.

Gainesway sold 137 yearlings for a gross of $43,573,000 to be the sale's leading consignor, while agent Donato Lanni acquired 20 yearlings for receipts of $12,590,000 to top the buyers’ chart.

European-based sires represented this year include Blue Point, Dubawi, Invincible Spirit, Kingman, No Nay Never and Wootton Bassett. 

US big names with yearlings for sale include American Pharoah, Curlin, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Justify, Quality Road, Tapit and Uncle Mo.

Horse of the Year Knicks Go, champion Essential Quality and Grade 1 winners Charlatan, Maxfield and Yaupon are among stallions represented by their first crop of yearlings. 

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