Coming off a report 2024 sale that produced the highest grossing Thoroughbred public sale in historical past with a complete gross of $428,097,000, together with personal gross sales, the bar has been set excessive for the 82nd Keeneland September Yearling Sale that may run Sept. 8-20 in Lexington.
After a robust begin to this summer time’s yearling gross sales season, momentum seems to hold right through the 12-session sale the place a complete of 4,692 horses have been cataloged; up from final 12 months’s 4,407.
“You are coming off a report 12 months. Final 12 months we broke information of common, median, and the gross as properly. They’re actually sturdy numbers to hit,” mentioned Keeneland vp of gross sales Tony Lacy. “However, in saying that, we’ve got 300 further horses this 12 months entered. I feel the standard might be as sturdy as we have ever seen right through to the top, stronger even so. We have to be very inspired. We will be difficult a few of these numbers once more.”
Consignors echoed the keenness displayed out there this 12 months, not solely within the yearling gross sales however within the 2-year-old public sale outcomes as properly.
“Coming right into a sale like this, you’d prefer to see power within the earlier market, actually within the 2-year-old facet of issues, and the center part of the market” mentioned Aidan O’Meara of Stonehaven Steadings. “Clearly, (Fasig-Tipton’s) Saratoga (Sale) was gangbusters. Join BloodHorse Day by day
“It’s important to maintain a tempered mentality on that form of factor. Because the quantity (of horses) develop, so does the unfold of cash, and every thing else. However, there’s been superb visitors on the barn, we’re excited to see what occurs right here. It is vibing rather well to this point, and all the primary gamers are out.”
Lacy was inspired by the acquainted faces seen on the grounds and a robust worldwide contingent.
“We meet a number of the shoppers of their residence international locations and promote the September and November gross sales very strongly,” Lacy mentioned. “So, it is a collective effort from each angle.”
The world’s largest Thoroughbred public sale continues to provide top-class runners 12 months after 12 months, and 2025 has been no exception. Keeneland September Sale graduates dominated the celebrated Saratoga Race Course meet this summer time, highlighted by Check Stakes (G1) winner Kilwin , Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian , and Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner Ted Noffey .
Picture: Anne M. EberhardtHip 150, a daughter of Munnings, is a half sister to Ted Noffey.
Along with being graduates of the September Sale, all three grade 1 winners have half siblings on supply on the upcoming sale. Hip 150 is a Munnings half sister to Ted Noffey and is consigned by Taylor Made Gross sales Company, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones; Hip 518 is half sister to the versatile Kilwin from the primary crop of 2022 Horse of the Yr Flightline ; she will probably be consigned by Pope McLean (Crestwood Farm), agent. Hip 802 is a Completely happy Saver half brother to Antiquarian, property of Airdrie Stud Raised and Provided.
Seismic Magnificence , a 2022 Keeneland September grad who notched her first grade 1 win Aug. 2 within the Clement Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, may have an Uncle Mo full sister on supply early within the first session of E book 1, cataloged as Hip 5. She will probably be consigned by Scott Mallory, agent for Decided Stud.
One other well timed grade 1 replace is an Uncle Mo half brother to Ballerina Stakes (G1) winner Hope Street being supplied throughout E book 1. The colt, consigned as Hip 34 by VanMeter Gross sales, agent, will symbolize Headley VanMeter’s first Keeneland September consignment.
READ: Siblings of Latest G1 Winners Kick Off Keeneland Sept.
“They’re the kind of updates you are in search of,” Lacy mentioned. “Foreign money in a household is one thing that actually helps draw consideration. Consumers love shopping for one thing that’s energetic and the household is rising, it offers them a number of confidence. We had an excellent Saratoga race meet, superb Del Mar, and usually we’re getting updates day by day; which we like to see the little crimson marks everywhere in the dynamic catalog web page.”
This 12 months’s format stays the identical with Books 1 and a pair of going down throughout the first 4 days of the September Sale and a “darkish day” with no promoting going down scheduled for Sept. 12. The September Sale will resume Sept. 13 with a two-day E book 3, two-day E book 4, and a four-day E book 5. E book 5 will probably be divided into E book 5A (Sept. 17-18) and E book 5B (Sept. 19-20). This displays the elevated caliber of horses represented within the catalog.
“Traditionally, folks graded horses by a sure guide,” Lacy mentioned. “Now, we have seen there is a homogeneous kind of strategy to the place sure stallions have bigger books, it is vital to unfold them out over extra periods than might need been obligatory beforehand. We have some very sturdy sires which might be represented right through to the top.
“What you are seeing is that it is a balancing act, that we’ve got to separate a number of the merchandise from one another so as to keep and create an excellent, wholesome stability of provide of every sort of horse. With the varied group of patrons that we’ve got rotating out and in of right here by means of the 2 weeks, we’d like high quality in entrance of individuals on a regular basis.”
Final 12 months’s sale was topped by a $5 million Curlin colt, now named Courting, who offered to Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. The colt, who was consigned by Indian Creek, is out of a number of grade 1 winner Cavorting , making him a full brother to a number of grade 1 winner Clairiere .
Indian Creek, on behalf of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings will supply final 12 months’s sale topper’s half brother—Hip 278—throughout the second session of E book 1. The colt by 2017 Horse of the Yr Gun Runner is certain to attract the eye of many top-class operations.
READ: Stonestreet Sends One other High-Class Group to Keeneland
Along with Keeneland’s product sales report final 12 months, the public sale additionally produced a report common of $147,926 and a report median of $70,000. The RNA price was a wholesome 18.2%, representing the 645 horses who failed to satisfy their reserve. The sale noticed a complete of 36 yearlings promote for $1 million or extra, the very best quantity since 2006.
Repole Secure (West Bloodstock, agent) was the main purchaser with 31 purchases totaling $11,410,000 with Taylor Made Gross sales main all consignors with 334 head offered for gross receipts of $53,333,200.
“The more healthy our gross sales are right here at Keeneland, the extra vibrant and sustainable the racing product is,” Lacy mentioned. “The gross sales assist the purses on the races, which is kind of a novel surroundings for a gross sales firm in that we give just about every thing again into the trade or the neighborhood.”
Keeneland has listed 70 outs as of Sunday night for E book 1, which begins Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. ET, with Hips 1-183 slated to undergo the ring.
