Coming off a record 2024 sale that produced the highest grossing Thoroughbred auction in history with a total gross of $428,097,000, including private sales, the bar has been set high for the 82nd Keeneland September Yearling Sale that will run Sept. 8-20 in Lexington.
After a strong start to this summer's yearling sales season, momentum looks to carry all the way through the 12-session sale where a total of 4,692 horses have been cataloged; up from last year's 4,407.
"You're coming off a record year. Last year we broke records of average, median, and the gross as well. They're really strong numbers to hit," said Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy. "But, in saying that, we have 300 extra horses this year entered. I think the quality is probably as strong as we've ever seen all the way through to the end, stronger even so. We've got to be very encouraged. We're going to be challenging some of those numbers again."
Consignors echoed the enthusiasm displayed in the market this year, not only in the yearling sales but in the 2-year-old auction results as well.
"Coming into a sale like this, you'd like to see strength in the previous market, certainly in the 2-year-old side of things, and the middle section of the market," said Aidan O'Meara of Stonehaven Steadings. "Obviously, (Fasig-Tipton's) Saratoga (Sale) was gangbusters.
"You have to keep a tempered mentality on that kind of thing. As the number (of horses) grow, so does the spread of money, and everything else. But, there's been very good traffic at the barn, we're excited to see what happens here. It's vibing really well so far, and all the main players are out."
Lacy was encouraged by the familiar faces seen on the grounds and a strong international contingent.
"We meet a lot of the customers in their home countries and promote the September and November sales very strongly," Lacy said. "So, this is a collective effort from every angle."
The world's largest Thoroughbred auction continues to produce top-class runners year after year, and 2025 has been no exception. Keeneland September Sale graduates dominated the prestigious Saratoga Race Course meet this summer, highlighted by Test Stakes (G1) winner Kilwin, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian, and Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner Ted Noffey.
In addition to being graduates of the September Sale, all three grade 1 winners have half siblings on offer at the upcoming sale. Hip 150 is a Munnings half sister to Ted Noffey and is consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for Aaron and Marie Jones; Hip 518 is half sister to the versatile Kilwin from the first crop of 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline ; she will be consigned by Pope McLean (Crestwood Farm), agent. Hip 802 is a Happy Saver half brother to Antiquarian, property of Airdrie Stud Raised and Offered.
Seismic Beauty, a 2022 Keeneland September grad who notched her first grade 1 win Aug. 2 in the Clement Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, will have an Uncle Mo full sister on offer early in the first session of Book 1, cataloged as Hip 5. She will be consigned by Scott Mallory, agent for Determined Stud.
Another timely grade 1 update is an Uncle Mo half brother to Ballerina Stakes (G1) winner Hope Road being offered during Book 1. The colt, consigned as Hip 34 by VanMeter Sales, agent, will represent Headley VanMeter's first Keeneland September consignment.
READ: Siblings of Recent G1 Winners Kick Off Keeneland Sept.
"They're the sort of updates you're looking for," Lacy said. "Currency in a family is something that really helps draw attention. Buyers love buying something that is active and the family is growing, it gives them a lot of confidence. We had a very good Saratoga race meet, very good Del Mar, and in general we're getting updates every day; which we love to see the little red marks all over the dynamic catalog page."
This year's format remains the same with Books 1 and 2 taking place during the first four days of the September Sale and a "dark day" with no selling taking place scheduled for Sept. 12. The September Sale will resume Sept. 13 with a two-day Book 3, two-day Book 4, and a four-day Book 5. Book 5 will be divided into Book 5A (Sept. 17-18) and Book 5B (Sept. 19-20). This reflects the increased caliber of horses represented in the catalog.
"Historically, people graded horses by a certain book," Lacy said. "Now, we've seen there's a homogeneous sort of approach to where certain stallions have larger books, it's important to spread them out over more sessions than might have been necessary previously. We've got some very strong sires that are represented all the way through to the end.
"What you're seeing is that it's a balancing act, that we have to separate a lot of the products from each other in order to maintain and create a good, healthy balance of supply of each type of horse. With the diverse group of buyers that we have rotating in and out of here through the two weeks, we need quality in front of people all the time."
Last year's sale was topped by a $5 million Curlin colt, now named Courting, who sold to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. The colt, who was consigned by Indian Creek, is out of multiple grade 1 winner Cavorting, making him a full brother to multiple grade 1 winner Clairiere.
Indian Creek, on behalf of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings will offer the 2024 sale-topper's half brother—Hip 278—during the second session of Book 1. The colt by 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner is sure to draw the attention of many top-class operations.
READ: Stonestreet Sends Another Top-Class Group to Keeneland
In addition to Keeneland's gross sales record last year, the auction also produced a record average of $147,926 and a record median of $70,000. The RNA rate was a healthy 18.2%, representing the 645 horses who failed to meet their reserve. The sale saw a total of 36 yearlings sell for $1 million or more, the highest number since 2006.
Repole Stable (West Bloodstock, agent) was the leading buyer with 31 purchases totaling $11,410,000 with Taylor Made Sales leading all consignors with 334 head sold for gross receipts of $53,333,200.
"The healthier our sales are here at Keeneland, the more vibrant and sustainable the racing product is," Lacy said. "The sales support the purses at the races, which is sort of a unique environment for a sales company in that we give pretty much everything back into the industry or the community."
Keeneland has listed 70 outs as of Sunday evening for Book 1, which starts Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. ET, with Hips 1-183 slated to go through the ring.
