Keeneland Tweaks September Yearling Sale Start Date

With a record of more than 6,000 entries for its September Yearling Sale, Keeneland is starting the auction a day earlier than originally scheduled.

The sale will begin Sunday, Sept. 13, rather than Monday, Sept. 14, according to an email sales and racing update sent to Keeneland customers from Bob Elliston, vice president of racing and sales.

"We are pleased to report that we have received a record number of entries this year—more than 6,000," Elliston reported, noting that the sale will consist of a catalog totaling 4,830 yearlings. "While we understand there will be additional withdrawals before our next deadline of Friday, June 12, we are optimistic of the confidence in our marketplace and are prepared to accommodate the demand.

"Over the past several weeks we have been talking to buyers and sellers about the format of the September Yearling Sale. These thoughtful discussions have informed our decision to push the start forward one day, beginning on Sunday, Sept. 13. The format of Books 1 and 2 will remain the same as last year, providing consistency and continued confidence to customers. We plan to offer approximately 1,330 yearlings in the first week, with the dark day falling on Wednesday, Sept. 16."

With the larger number of entries, Keeneland will catalog 3,000 yearlings in Week 2, with Books 3 through 6 taking place from Saturday, Sept. 19, through Saturday, Sept. 26. The sales company estimates 375 yearlings will be offered during each of those eight days.

The sale will conclude Sept. 27-28 with Book 7, in which 500 yearlings will be cataloged.

"As we finalize the number of entries in the coming weeks, we will provide further updates on this front," Elliston said.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Keeneland previously announced it will offer video support to buyers and sellers for the September sale, including "digital inspections" for horses entered in Books 1 and 2 of the auction, with the Keeneland broadcast services department coordinating those inspections for Book 1 and 2 yearlings. These videos will enable remote buyers to access quality video representations of yearlings cataloged and provide every seller with the opportunity to deliver a consistent and quality presentation of their yearlings to buyers around the world.

For those horses cataloged for the remaining Books 3-6, Keeneland broadcast services will provide support to consignors and owners "who wish to record videos or capture photos of yearlings independently," Keeneland said.