Keeneland Surpasses 2005 Totals on Eighth Day

Monday's session of the Keeneland November mixed sale saw the sale gross surpass last year's total figure as foreign and domestic buyers kept the market strong. Totals for the eight days of selling reached $290,807,400 while gross sales for the 14-day auction in 2005 totaled $289,602,900, which was the third-highest in the sale's 62-year history. The sale's record gross of $317,666,000 came in 1999.

"We are very pleased that we have already surpassed last year's gross, and we are only on day eight," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales. "We've still got a good crowd on hand, both internationally and domestically. Today we had a strong influence from South America and South Korea."

During the session, Keeneland sold 257 horses for $10,178,700, for an average of $39,606 and a median of $30,000. Those results represented a 24.4% increase in gross sales, a 33.6% rise in average, and a 42.9% increase in median price over 2005. During the corresponding session last year, 276 horses brought $8,180,700, for an average of $29,640 and a median of $21,000.

With six days left, Keeneland had sold 1,921 horses, compared to last year when 1,908 horses had been sold. Average price for the sale is up 5.3% to $151,383 as compared to $143,812 reported last year. The median price of $75,000 rose 25% from $60,000 in 2005.

The number of horses failing to sell was up slightly this session as compared to 2005. Monday saw 23.3% of horses fail to find new homes, compared to 21.8% last year. However, for the entire sale, 22.9% have failed sell, compared with 24%, which is a decrease of 4.6%.

Dreamingatdaybreak, an unraced daughter of Grand Slam, topped the session when Ron Gilbert, as agent for C.R. Trout and Reata Thoroughbred Farm, signed the ticket for $200,000. The mare is out of the stakes winner Far Flying and is in foal to Successful Appeal  . Dreamingatdaybreak is from the family of champion Sacahuista and graded stakes winner Geri. The mare was consigned by Craig and Holly Bandoroff's Denali Stud, agent for Crystal Springs Farm Dispersal.

Keeneland's November breeding stock sale runs through Nov. 19. Sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. each day.