Fractional Interest in Flightline to be Offered Nov. 7

Two days after Flightline  experiences a defining moment in the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the undefeated $1.39 million earner's second career as a stallion will come into a sharper focus through an innovative auction involving a Metaverse experience.

It was announced Oct. 25 by Lane's End and Keeneland that a coveted 2.5% ownership share in Flightline will be offered for sale Nov. 7 at the start of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

The winning bidder will receive all rights, benefits, and obligations of a co-owner in accordance with the 4-year-old's syndicate agreement, and that person or entity will have access to mating seasons and a share of breeding revenue in accordance with their percentage of ownership. Whether Flightline will race at 5 after the Classic or be retired to stud will be decided after the Breeders' Cup.

"Flightline's stud fee has yet to be determined," said Bill Farish of Lane's End, where the son of Tapit   will stand as the property of a syndicate at the end of his racing career, "but he will surely retire as one of the most valuable Thoroughbred stallion prospects in recent memory. He'll be a historic addition to the Lane's End roster, and the syndicate model is an exciting way for more people to participate in a sport that otherwise has a high barrier to entry."

Flightline, a three-time grade 1 winner at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, is 5-for-5 for trainer John Sadler and figures to be heavily favored in the Classic. He won his most recent start, the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), by an astonishing 19 1/4 lengths and is the world's highest-ranked runner in the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings.

The freakishly fast colt has a combined margin of nearly 62 lengths, an average of a little more than 12 lengths per start.

Depending on what happens in the $6 million Classic, some industry experts have estimated that Flightline's value as a stallion could reach $60 million or more. 

Flightline, out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered, is owned by Hronis Racing, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, the racing arm of Lane's End, and Siena Farm. A slice of West Point's share will constitute the 2.5% being auctioned.

West Point purchased Flightline for $1 million from the Lane's End consignment at the 2019 Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's New York sale of select yearlings.

"The auction is a first-of-its-kind undertaking and an exciting venture for our partners," said West Point president and founder Terry Finley. "It will give us a good indication of the interest in this horse at stud, even though we know there will be a substantive demand for his services."

Qualified bidders can inspect the terms of the syndicate agreement and then must register in advance and have established credit with Keeneland Sales before being allowed to bid on Nov. 7. Bidding will take place onsite, by phone, or through Keeneland's online auction platform.

The November Sale will also feature a unique immersive, first-of-its-kind Metaverse experience giving viewers an up-close look at the sale from a virtual sales ring modeled after Keeneland's setting.

"With these trailblazing firsts—a chance to own a portion of the world's best racehorse and the opportunity to experience the world's leading auction house in the Metaverse—Lane's End and Keeneland are once again proving their commitment to evolving horse racing and welcome a new generation of fans to its timeless traditions," said Shannon Arvin, president and CEO of Keeneland. "Keeneland has always found ways to innovate, but it's always grounded in doing what is best for the sport, with horses at the center of it."

The virtual component will be hosted on Spatial and accessible with a Oculus headset or by other options that include desktop computer or mobile phone.

More than 3,600 horses have been cataloged for Keeneland's 79th November Breeding Stock Sale which will begin at 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and run through Nov. 16.