Fasig-Tipton rolls three yearling sales into one September auction

Fasig-Tipton's July, Saratoga and New York-bred Select sales will be consolidated into one selected yearling auction – the 2020 Selected Yearlings Showcase – to be held September 9 and 10 at the company's Lexington facility in Kentucky.

Fasig-Tipton came to the decision after evaluating the progression of the Covid-19 pandemic for the last few weeks.

"We're excited to offer our buyers and sellers a selected yearling venue in Kentucky," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "We envision this catalogue will include yearlings that would traditionally fit our Saratoga Sale, as well as those that would fall in the upper echelons of our July and New York-bred yearling sales."

The July, Saratoga and New York-bred yearling sales will return to their traditional dates in 2021. The sale company said it intends to conduct the remainder of its 2020 auction calendar as scheduled, including its forthcoming Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale that takes place on June 29 and 30 in Timonium, Maryland.

Fasig-Tipton will also offer a group of selected New York-bred yearlings as part of the Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, to be held on October 20 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

"This year has been difficult so far, and we're all being forced to make decisions that we never envisioned having to make," said Browning.

"We waited as long as possible to come to these determinations, conducting our due diligence to ensure that we make informed decisions that are in the best interests of our buyers and sellers.

"The two-year-old sales season needs to conclude before yearling sales begin, which makes a traditional July Sale unfeasible," elaborated Browning. "Our two Saratoga auctions are tied closely to the race meet. We desperately want to see a traditional Saratoga race meet as much as anyone.

"However, the details for the race meet – including whether spectators will be permitted – are understandably not finalised. We are at a point in time where we must provide our sellers with a definitive schedule so that they can make sales plans for their yearlings.

"We considered several different dates in August and early September for a Kentucky sale, but the September 9 and 10 dates make the most sense from a variety of perspectives. For the travel convenience of buyers, as well as co-ordination of potential health and safety protocols, our sale and the Keeneland September Yearling Sale are best served to be positioned closer together.

"Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland have been in steady contact with one another and are working together in a cooperative effort to do what's best for our industry during these challenging times."

Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason echoed that agreement to work together in order to best serve the industry.

"Keeneland is committed to do everything possible to help our industry navigate these extraordinary times," he said. "These past few weeks, we've had many conversations with Fasig-Tipton about constructive efforts to benefit the industry, including scheduling of sales and consistent safety protocols.

"We will continue to work together on policies and measures to keep participants safe and provide assurances to our customers as we move forward."

All yearlings catalogued in the Selected Yearlings Showcase will be approved on pedigree and physical conformation by Fasig-Tipton's selection team over the next several weeks, ahead of the sale's June 15 entry deadline.

Nominations for the Selected Yearlings Showcase are now open at fasigtipton.com. Yearlings already nominated to Fasig-Tipton's July, Saratoga and New York-bred yearling sales do not need to re-nominate. There is no fee to nominate.

Fasig-Tipton has launched a dedicated website for its 2020 Selected Yearlings Showcase sale. Click here to visit it.

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