Evans Estate to Disperse Stock at Keeneland

The estate of the late Edward P. Evans, who bred more than 100 stakes winners including 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam and multiple grade 1 winner Quality Road, will disperse its Thoroughbred yearlings, weanlings, broodmares, and racing stock at Keeneland’s September yearling and November breeding stock sales.

Lane’s End Farm will act as agent for the complete dispersal, with the exception of Quality Road , who will continue to stand at Lane’s End. The approximately 250 horses will be sold without reserve. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Edward P. Evans Charitable Foundation.

“Ned was an extraordinary sportsman who had such a wonderful passion for this game,” Keeneland president and chief executive officer Nick Nicholson said in a statement. “He truly loved his horses, and took immense pride in the success of his breeding and racing program, personally planning the matings and racing his homebreds. Ned was a great friend to Keeneland, and a tremendous champion of our industry.”

Evans operated Spring Hill Farm in Virginia for more than 40 years, and established himself among the nation’s top owners and breeders. The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association named Evans the Virginia breeder of the year nine times, most recently in 2009. That year it also named him national breeder of the year.

Evans retired his best fillies to build a world-class broodmare band, including such grade I winners as Summer Colony and Raging Fever, and multiple graded-stakes winner Gold Mover. Evans died Dec. 31, 2010, at age 68.

“The Evans dispersal will offer breeding stock from families not previously available on the commercial market,” Keeneland vice president of sales Walt Robertson said. “This will be a unique opportunity for Keeneland and horsemen worldwide.”

In 2010 Evans ranked seventh among North American owners with stable earnings of $3.6 million, spurred by the success of homebred Quality Road. Evans purchased Kobla, dam of Quality Road, at Keeneland’s 1999 November breeding stock sale.

Evans counted among his other homebred stakes winners Gygistar, Tap Dance, Cat's At Home, Minstrella, and With Ability. He also campaigned Ruffian Invitational (gr. I) winner Malibu Prayer, Prioress Stakes (gr. I) winner Cat Moves, and Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) winner A Little Warm.