LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 14, 2013) – Keeneland sales officials on Thursday announced a redesign of the format for the 2013 September Yearling Sale, to be conducted Sept. 9-20.
“We continually adapt the September Sale format to meet the current needs of our consignors and buyers, and these changes reflect the ‘market of the moment,’ ” said Walt Robertson, Keeneland Vice President of Sales. “This is a two-week sale that essentially spans three distinct markets. Our goal is to facilitate the process so we can engage buyers from beginning to end.”
The format for the 2013 September Sale will be as follows:
Week 1 (Book 1) – Monday-Thursday, September 9-12. The premier Book 1 catalog will span the entire four-day opening week. Approximately 950 yearlings cataloged alphabetically by dam. Sessions begin at 12 p.m. daily.
Friday, September 13 – The traditional “dark day;” no sales will be conducted.
Weekend (Book 2) – Saturday-Sunday, September 14-15. Sessions begin at 10 a.m.
Week 2 (Books 3-6) – Monday–Friday, September 16-20. Sessions begin at 10 a.m.
“This schedule creates efficiencies, and better fits the demands of our buyers and sellers,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s Director of Sales. “The 2012 September Sale was extraordinary in the sheer number of people who attended and the exceptionally high volume of trade they generated, particularly into the sale’s final days. The strength of that second week was unlike anything we’ve recently experienced. These format changes will aid consignors in marketing their horses to their fullest potential, and allow buyers to better navigate today’s highly competitive market.”
The September Sale is globally acknowledged as the premier Thoroughbred yearling auction, and the primary barometer for the health of the horse industry. Clientele from nearly every U.S. state and 50 countries include the world’s major owners, many of the nation’s leading trainers and a number of prominent juvenile sale consignors.
The strength of last year’s September Sale is borne out by its final results:
Results were highlighted by double-digit growth in average and median prices, and seven different buyers for each of the seven yearlings sold for $1 million or more. The RNA rate decreased by double-digits during six of the sale’s 11 sessions, falling to unprecedented single digits during each of the final three days of the sale, a phenomenon considering that average and median prices continued to rise.
Keeneland has sold more champions and stakes winners than any other sales company. In 2012, Keeneland sales alumni won all five Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) preps and the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness (G1), the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and six Breeders’ Cup World Championships; earned numerous Eclipse Awards; and led Europe’s juvenile filly rankings. In all, 45 Keeneland sales grads accounted for 58 Grade/Group 1 stakes last year.
Keeneland will provide live coverage of the entire 2013 September Sale at Keeneland.com.
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