Keeneland Catalogues 4,059 For November Sale

Keeneland will catalog 4,059 horses for the 60th annual November breeding stock sale it was announced Friday. The sale will begin on Sunday, Nov. 2 with the dispersal of the breeding stock belonging to William C. Schettine and a consignment from Joanne Nor's Norfields Farm. Paramount Sales is representing Schettine while Taylor Made Sales Agency is representing Norfields.

The 12-day sale will continue through Thursday, Nov. 13. Sale sessions begin at 10 a.m. EST each day except on Nov. 2 when the sale will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Schettine's dispersal of 58 broodmares and weanlings includes Felicita, dam of multiple grade I winner Take Charge Lady who won Keeneland's Ashland, Overbrook Spinster Stakes (both gr. I) and the Walmac International Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II).

Schettine's dispersal is not a complete one, according to Adam Staple, stallion coordinator for Schettine's Signature Stallions near Ocala, Fla. "He's keeping his horses in training, and his stallions," Staple said. "He's just parting with his broodmares and foals. It's a personal issue, not an economic one."

Schettine owns three of the seven stallions standing at Signature, the former DunHill Farm that he purchased earlier this year. Staple said Schettine currently has 10-12 horses in training and a few lay ups.

The November sale is the world's most important auction of its type in terms of total sales and average. This year's sale includes 2,163 broodmares, 242 broodmare prospects, 1,588 weanlings and 66 horses of various other ages and types. Last year's sale cataloged 1,951 broodmares, 146 broodmare prospects, 1,339 weanlings, and 161 horses of other types for a total of 3,597 horses.

Last year's total gross was $187,230,000, which was up 4.3% from 2001. The 1,411 broodmares that were reported as sold grossed $136,733,800 for an average of $96,906. The 864 weanlings that were reported as sold grossed $42,769,300 for an average of $49,502.

Last year's broodmare average was up from 2001's average of $93,459, but off the record $127,067 recorded in 2000. The weanling sector, which marked the first year since 1993 that less than 1,000 were sold, was up from the $43,244 mark in 2001 but off the 1999 record average of $61,634.

Last year's sale was boosted by ClassicStar and Newsells Park Stud who combined spent more than $32 million on 50 horses.