The marketplace for ready-made racehorses demonstrated appreciable power Nov. 14 on the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale, the place common and median every rose greater than 50% year-on-year. Regardless of 56 fewer horses offered, gross stayed similar to final yr at $8,620,500 for the 106 horses that modified fingers, together with post-ring gross sales.
“That was very vibrant from the very get go,” mentioned Keeneland’s vice chairman of gross sales Tony Lacy. “Yearly has a bit of bit completely different dynamic, however there was little or no weak point in that market, with virtually a 90% clearance charge. The median jumps 66%, the common jumps 60%, that is critically robust.”
With 117 outs, that left 119 head to undergo the ring producing $8,620,500 from the 106 horses offered. The common was $81,325, up 56% from 2023, with a median of $47,500, a rise of 58%. An 11% RNA charge represented the 13 horses who failed to fulfill their reserve.
The sale was highlighted by the sale of horses from the property of the late John Hendrickson. Gainesway dealt with the consignment of the property’s eight horses who offered for a complete of $1,807,000.
Alyeska , a 2-year-old daughter of Vekoma , topped the sale at $675,000, promoting to Steve Younger, agent for an undisclosed shopper. Younger bought two different horses from the dispersal providing, together with Hip 4086, Captain Prepare dinner , a juvenile colt by Sensible Joke for $410,000, and Hip 4131, Girdwood, an unraced son of McKinzie for $200,000. Join BloodHorse Each day
KING: Hendrickson Property Juveniles Carry Excessive Greenback
Younger was the main purchaser of the day with 5 purchases totaling $1,342,000.
Picture: Keeneland PhotoBloodstock agent Steve Younger, main purchaser on the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale
“I believe there is a worth in legacy pedigrees,” mentioned Keeneland’s director of gross sales Cormac Breathnach. “They have been sought-after, not simply because there isn’t any reserves in dispersals however since you’re getting a chunk of another person’s legacy. And, who higher than Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson’s program?”
“When you’ve the horses of racing age sale, every year is completely different. Some years are stronger than others. There are quite a lot of scratches however the ones which might be left are very good horses,” mentioned Younger.
ELiTE was the main consignor with 32 horses offered for $2,450,000. Vekoma led sires by gross totals with two 2-year-old fillies offered for a mixed $815,000.
Final yr’s sale noticed 162 horses change fingers for a complete of $8,454,000, together with post-ring gross sales. The common was $52,185, with a median of $30,000. Twenty-three horses failed to fulfill their reserve, leading to an RNA charge of 12% in 2023.
“It reveals the demand for high quality inventory, and actually admire the people who supported us with this,” mentioned Lacy. “It goes to show, if you get the fitting atmosphere, that is the fitting place to do it. I believe the sellers have been extraordinarily joyful, and the consumers have been delighted to get the horses they received.”
Breathnach echoed: “Numerous worldwide consumers nonetheless right here. They stayed throughout the Breeding Inventory Sale. They’re nonetheless right here shopping for, and you have folks like Mike Trombetta, was very lively for Larry Johnson. You have received Steve Younger who was very lively. Numerous home, powerhouse gamers as effectively. A very, actually enjoyable sale. And, sort of a kind of gross sales you want may’ve gone on a pair extra hours.”
