Keeneland officials celebrate 'major accomplishment' as ten-day sale concludes

Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale ended on Wednesday after ten days of competitive trade for broodmares, broodmare and stallion prospects, weanlings and horses of racing age, including nine horses sold for $1 million or more.

“Keeneland ends this fall with a sense of gratitude for the hard work of everyone who participated in the success of the September Yearling and November Breeding Stock Sales, the fall race meet and Breeders’ Cup,” said Keeneland president and chief executive Bill Thomason, who will retire on December 31 after a decade of service to Keeneland.

“Given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global horse industry, the fact that we were able to conduct our fall events on the dates originally scheduled is a major accomplishment that should be celebrated by all involved.”

For the entire auction from November 9-18, Keeneland recorded gross sales of $151,019,300 for 2,198 horses, for an average of $68,708 and a median of $23,000.

The 2019 November Sale, which spanned 12 sessions, had 2,570 horses sell in the ring for $193,316,100, for an average of $75,220 and a median of $25,000.

Online bidding, which Keeneland introduced at the September Sale, continued to gain popularity for this month's ten-day auction, as 279 horses sold over the internet for $16,274,300.

More horses sold each day via the internet during the second week of the auction than during the first week. Leading the online purchases was Grade 1 winner Ollie’s Candy, who raced two days before the start of the sale in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland and sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to K I Farm of Japan for $1.65m.

Ollie's Candy: bought over the internet for $1.65 millionCredit: Benoit Photo

“The enthusiasm for quality horses and the participation of major domestic and foreign buyers, many of whom remained active well into the second week of the sale, is a testament to the resiliency of this industry,” said Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell.

“There was a healthy mix of US and international interests representing Europe, Japan, Korea, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, among others, as well as several new buyers emerging on the scene.

"Hats off to consignors, who were very good about marketing their horses, either directly or via Keeneland’s website, to remote buyers. We know this hasn’t been an easy environment to navigate, and we appreciate the efforts all have made to participate either in person or through use of the available technology.”

The premier Book 1 on November 9 produced nine horses who brought $1m and more, led by two offerings purchased by the auction’s leading buyer, Larry Best’s OXO Equine: Concrete Rose and Indian Miss.

Grade 1 winner Concrete Rose, a four-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, was consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Lane’s End, agent for Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing.

Indian Miss, an 11-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie who is the dam of champion Mitole, was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, in foal to Into Mischief. Three days before the sale began, her two-year-old colt Hot Rod Charlie was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Best bought 17 horses in total for $7,965,000. Eight of his purchases were weanlings, topped by a colt by Mastery for $450,000. He continued to purchase weanlings through the sale’s fifth session.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was leading consignor for the fourth consecutive year and the 24th time since 1987. Taylor Made sold 208 horses for $18,957,600, including the aforementioned Ollie’s Candy, along with Lady Prancealot and Expo Gold, dam of the 2020 Preakness-winning filly Swiss Skydiver who is in foal to Catholic Boy.

During Wednesday’s final session, 214 horses sold for $1,309,600, for an average of $6,120 and a median of $4,000. The high seller at $40,000 was Mutakaamil, a four-year-old son of Tapit who was hammered down to Jeff Engler, agent for Lea Farms. Bluewater Sales consigned the colt.

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