The success of the consignment, Farish said, was "a major factor" in his decision not to return to the July auction this year."The September sale has become so much stronger, and there is so much more variety" in terms of buyers and horses, Farish said. "It's also later in the year, and it gives your horses more time to mature."Prior to abandoning the July auction in 2000, Lane's End ranked perennially among the sale's leading consignors. Based on gross receipts, the farm held the No. 1 spot for nine consecutive years, from 1988-96.
For the second year in a row, Lane's End Farm will not have a consignment at the Keeneland July select yearling sale. Lane's End owner William S. Farish told The Blood-Horse on Wednesday that the farm would continue to focus its marketing efforts on Keeneland's September auction in 2001."You never rule anything out," said Farish, when asked if Lane's End would ever sell in July again. "Things change from year to year. But at the moment, I don't see that (a return to July) happening."Lane's End's consignment to the select portion of the 2000 Keeneland September yearling auction enjoyed phenomenal success. The 45 horses sold grossed $45,697,000. They included Tasmanian Tiger, a $6.8-million Storm Cat-Hum Along colt that was the highest-priced yearling offered in 2000 at public auction. They also included Moon's Whisper, a $4.4-million daughter of Storm Cat-East of the Moon that established a world record for a yearling filly sold publicly.
