Keeneland September dates unaltered while Fasig-Tipton July undecided

While the 2020 sale calendar has been disrupted because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Keeneland is keeping the dates of its September Yearling Sale in Kentucky unchanged rather than move the September 14-26 auction to begin the week after the rescheduled Kentucky Derby on September 5.

"The September sale will take place as scheduled," Keeneland vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston said.

"We're hopeful that the environment will permit everything to operate under normal circumstances, but we will be evaluating a number of contingencies to ensure the most significant thoroughbred auction in the world takes place under the most favourable conditions possible.

"The entire range of market participants need and deserve our complete attention to that outcome."

There had been discussion among consignors and buyers about the possibility of repositioning the sale to take advantage of buyers who would already be in Kentucky for the rescheduled Derby, which will be run the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Last month, when asked whether a date change for the world's largest yearling sale was under consideration, Elliston said: "In times like these, we have to be nimble and responsive; nothing is off the table.

"We're in constant contact with our customers, buyers, and consignors, and as this rapidly changing environment continues, together we will take the necessary actions to adapt to those changes to ensure the best marketplace possible to offer these yearlings."

The world's largest yearling market sold 2,974 yearlings last year for gross receipts of $372,348,400, an average price of $125,201, and a $47,000 median.

The sale draws a deep buyer base, and the barn area and pavilion are usually crowded, especially during Book 1, when those yearlings perceived to be the best offerings in the catalogue based on breeding and conformation are offered.

Keeneland has already cancelled its April Two-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Meanwhile, Fasig-Tipton has notified its customers of the possibility that The July Sale, the company's select yearling sale scheduled for July 13-14 in Lexington, might be repositioned on the calendar.

"All of us at Fasig-Tipton hope that you are staying healthy and safe during this Covid-19 pandemic," Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning jnr said in a letter sent to customers this week.

"In order to create the best possible marketplace for the 2020 yearling sales, we believe it's imperative that the start of yearling sales season occurs after the vast majority of two-year-old sales have been conducted.

"This could result in a modification to the originally announced Kentucky July Yearling Sale dates," Browning continued.

"However, it would be premature to make such a determination at this time. We will carefully evaluate and monitor the health conditions throughout the US in the next few weeks before making that decision. Should there be any changes in dates, formats, etc, they will be quickly communicated."

The July Sale has been a lucrative source of yearlings bought by pinhookers to resell as two-year-olds in training.

Historically, the two-year-olds in training sales begin in March and conclude in June, but the status quo was disrupted this year. The yearling sale season begins in July and continues through October.

Ocala Breeders' Sales rescheduled its June Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training to July 14-17 as part of a reconfiguration of its 2020 calendar due to the effects of the novel coronavirus.

Browning also said Fasig-Tipton is unable to conduct any yearling inspections.

"Currently, it is not possible to conduct yearling inspections due to various stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions in place throughout the United States," Browning's letter said.

"As soon as it is safe and practical, we will resume the inspection process. We are fortunate to have the ability to utilise several qualified inspection teams for this process, and the vast majority of selected yearling sale candidates are concentrated in specific geographic areas."

Browning directed breeders and consignors to continue to nominate horses to this year's selected yearling sales, including The Saratoga Sale and the New-York Bred Sale, both in Saratoga Springs, New York.

"Fasig-Tipton is a highly flexible and adaptable sales company," Browning said. "We will make needed adjustments, as conditions dictate, to properly serve the marketplace in 2020.

"This is an unprecedented situation for all of us, and it is important for our industry to work together to help each other during these trying times."

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