According to a press release that came out today, Wednesday, August 10, 2011, Keeneland officials have announced that 4,319 horses have been cataloged for its 2011 September Yearling Sale, which will be held September 11-24.
“The September Sale is the industry convention; its ‘star power’ attracts the largest group of influential buyers of any sale in the world,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales, Walt Robertson, said in the press release. “They know this is where they will find the extraordinary individuals, the very best horses that the market has to offer.”
Keeneland is known the world over as the premier thoroughbred auction house, as it attracts buyers from nearly every state in the United States, as well as 49 countries. Without questions, buyers from around the globe come to Keeneland's September Sale to find superb thoroughbred athletes at every level of the market.
According to the press release, Keeneland has sold more champions and stakes winners than any other sales company, and its September Sale alumni continue to build on its record of success.
In addition, so far this year, there have been 20 Keeneland September Sale graduates who are now Grade/Group 1 stakes winners, including Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, Ruler On Ice, Tizway, Sean Avery, Dream Ahead, Morning Line, Pool Play, C. S. Silk, Havre de Grace, Switch, Nereid, Lilacs and Lace, Archarcharch, Game On Dude, Zazu, Sassy Image, California Memory, Edubai Del Ocho and Obeche. All told, Keeneland September Sale alumni have accounted for a total of 102 graded/group stakes.
The sale also is renowned for the depth and breadth of its stallion roster, with yearlings representing many of the world’s most recognized sires. In 2011, yearlings by 253 different stallions have been cataloged.
Again, according to the press release, in Book 1, the two-evening select portion of the sale, will feature yearlings by such great sires as A.P. Indy, Arch, Awesome Again, Bernardini, Big Brown, Candy Ride (ARG), Cape Cross (IRE), Curlin, Danehill Dancer (IRE), Distorted Humor, Divine Park, Dixie Union, Dynaformer, Elusive Quality, Exchange Rate, Galileo (IRE), Giant’s Causeway, Harlan’s Holiday, Henrythenavigator, Indian Charlie, Invasor (ARG), Lemon Drop Kid, Malibu Moon, Medaglia d’Oro, Midnight Lute, Mr. Greeley, Pivotal (GB), Pulpit, Raven’s Pass, Rock Hard Ten, Smart Strike, Street Cry (IRE), Street Sense, Tale of the Cat, Tapit, Tiznow, Unbridled’s Song and War Front.
Also among the consignments highlighting this year’s sale will be yearlings from the dispersals of the estates of Edward P. Evans and Prince Saud bin Khaled.
Of the total 4,319 yearlings cataloged for the 13-day sale, 2,230 are colts and 2,089 are fillies.
“The number of yearlings cataloged this year has been reduced about 11 percent from 2010, primarily with regard to horses offered during the latter days of the sale,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s Director of Sales in the press release. “Breeders have done a very good job of being proactive; the contraction in the size of the foal crop will produce better quality.”
As earlier announced, Keeneland has worked extensively with its customers to "fine-tune" the 2011 sale format in an effort to help consignors and buyers better navigate the first week, and to further encourage buyers to stay deeper into the sale.
The format for the 2011 September Sale will be as follows:
* Book 1: This book remains unchanged. A select sale of 211 yearlings on Sunday and Monday evenings, Sept. 11-12; sessions start at 7 p.m.
* Book 2: There will be 935 yearlings selling Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 13-15. Roughly 311 horses per day, in alphabetical order by dam in a single catalog. Each Book 2 consignment will be stabled in a single barn. Sessions start at 11 a.m. on these days.
* Friday, Sept. 16, will be a “dark” day in which no selling will take place.
* Book 3: This begins on Saturday, Sept. 17. Sessions start at 10 a.m. daily through the remainder of the sale.
September Sale catalogs are available online on the Keeneland Web site. Catalogs will be mailed the week of August 22. Live coverage of the entire sale will be streamed on the Keeneland Web site.
(Photo by Rick Capone)