An Unbridled's Song colt brought $185,000 to top the ninth session of the struggling Keeneland September yearling sale. While the number of horses sold Sept. 23 in Lexington rose 5.6% from a year ago, the gross revenue declined 26.2%. The average price dropped 30.1%, and the median price plunged 40%. The buy-back rate fell from 24.6% in 2008 to 19.3% this year.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Overbrook Farm dispersal, which began at the Keeneland September yearling sale, will not mark the end of the Young family's involvement in the Thoroughbred business. Chris Young, the 34-year-old grandson of Overbrook founder W.T. Young, is making plans for his own venture that probably will emphasize racing.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
David Hayden has a message for his fellow commercial breeders: "Change or die." The ability to be flexible during hard times, he said last week at the Keeneland September yearling sale in Lexington, is the key to survival. And Hayden, who plans to keep raising horses for many years to come, has looked at everything from production costs to where he will market his yearlings in an effort to remain profitable and avoid drowning in a sea of red ink.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Here is a list of horses that consignors and buyers think could be standouts Sept. 15 during the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale in Lexington.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The weekend before the Sept. 14 start of the Keeneland September yearling sale in Lexington, the auction's participants were worrying about the market and trying to guess how much it would be down from 2008. But some consignors were pleasantly surprised by how many people were looking at their horses. Here is what some of them had to say.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Azeri, who was bought back for $4.4 million at this year's Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, has been entered in the upcoming Keeneland November breeding stock sale, according to John Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency and Hill 'n' Dale Farms. Owned by the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust, the 2002 Horse of the Year is in foal to Distorted Humor after producing a Ghostzapper filly this year.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Consignors at the Keeneland September yearling sale were bracing themselves for one of the most daunting auction challenges of 2009: Finding new homes for thousands of young horses at a time when the weak economy is causing buyer demand for Thoroughbreds to shrink. Buyers, meanwhile, were excited about the prospect of bargains.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
As a partner in historic Darby Dan Farm, Wayne Sweezey was a familiar face at the Keeneland September yearling sale. But a non-compete agreement kept him from being an active participant in last year's auction after he left Darby Dan. Now Sweezey is back with his own consignment, T. Wayne Sweezey and partners, which has 22 horses in the September catalog.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tennessee equestrian and horse breeder Lisa Cook wanted a Thoroughbred mare to breed to her Thoroughbred stallion, but perceived high prices always prevented her from buying one at high profile auctions such as Kentucky's Keeneland sale. But since the economy drove prices at this year's Keeneland September yearling sale downward, sport horse enthusiasts like Cook might be thinking differently.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
When the Keeneland September yearling sale opens in Lexington, things are going to get very interesting very quickly. Remember Playful Act (by Sadler's Wells), who brought a world record price for a broodmare of $10.5 million last November? Her first foal, a daughter of Giant's Causeway, is Hip No. 12 during auction's first session Sept 8.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Keeneland has cataloged a record 5,555 yearlings for its 2008 September yearling sale, which is scheduled for Sept. 8-23.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The gross revenue and average price increased during the seventh session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Monday, when a Cherokee Run colt sold for $325,000.
Monday, September 17, 2007
The select market at the Keeneland September yearling sale isn't as strong at the top as it was a year ago.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
William S. Farish's Lane's End sold 18 horses for $19,620,000 on the second day of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Senior staff writer Ron Mitchell identifies the top ten offerings on the first day of the 2007 Keeneland Yearling Sale.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Declines, but not big ones, are expected at the Keeneland September yearling sale, which begins Monday.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Coverage of the first two days of Keeneland's September yearling sale, the September 11 and 12 select sessions, will be broadcast live in the United States by HorseRacing TV (HRTV) and on a tape-delayed basis by TVG.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Keeneland has catalogued a record 5,161 horses for its September yearling sale in Lexington.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Keeneland's September sale, which starts its 14-session run on Monday in Lexington, will test the yearling marketplace at every level.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Hitting the wire Monday after its longest ever run, the Keeneland September yearling sale upped its world record gross for a Thoroughbred auction to $324,904,300.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Day 11 of the Keeneland September yearling sale saw buyers spend $5,783,200, which was good enough to push the sale's total to more than $318 million, topping the all-time mark for a single sale. There is little rest for the happy yet weary Keeneland sales crew; the marathon 14-day sale still has three more sessions to go.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Colts by Giant's Causeway and Monarchos brought final bids of $750,000 to top the third session of Keeneland's September yearling sale Wednesday. All key figures for the sale took sizable moves forward in a heated, marathon session that grossed $43.9 million.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Lakland, Three Chimneys, Four Star Sales Among Keeneland September consignors with yearlings to watch.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Is the biggest sale of its kind in the world getting too big?
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Keeneland is changing the format of the September yearling sale's "selected sessions" so they mirror the July select yearling sale. The sale, which was 13 days last year, also will take a break the Friday of the first week.
Friday, April 19, 2002
Wednesday began with a lot of questions for the Keeneland Association, mostly surrounding what effect the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday would have on resumption of the September Yearling Sale. By the end of the day, the sales company in Lexington, Ky. had gotten affirmation that the right decision had been made. There was competitive bidding between buyers from North America, Europe, and Middle Eastern countries during the session, which was highlighted by a Storm Cat colt sold for $6.4 million.
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Keeneland has announced it will catalog 4,483 horses for its 13-day September Yearling Sale. That total includes 2,372 colts, 2,110 fillies, and one gelding.
Friday, July 27, 2001
The 13-day September yearling sale at Keeneland ended Saturday with sales eclipsing the previous records for gross, average price, and number of horses sold.
Sunday, September 24, 2000
