When Keeneland's September Yearling Sale begins Monday, Sept. 14, the auctioneer stand for the world's most important auction of Thoroughbred racing prospects will be missing a familiar face.
Auctioneer Scott Caldwell has retired after 52 years, closing a chapter of a family association with the sales company that began in the 1950s with his late father, Tom, and included his late brother, Cris.
Scott, who lives in San Clemente, California with his wife, Leslie, looks forward to spending more time with his family and his hobbies such as bowhunting and sword fishing. He is modest about another reason for retiring from Keeneland.
"I have done auctions all over the world and been very fortunate to do many things with many different auctioneers and varieties of auctions," Scott said. "I have seen a few auctioneers in my day stay a little too long, and I didn't want to be that guy. I want people to be happy with my performance and wish I was still there versus 'Thank God he's gone.' "
The Caldwell family's connection to Keeneland started in 1957 when Tom Caldwell joined the sales company as assistant to legendary auctioneer George Swinebroad. In 1974, when Scott began working at Keeneland, he was auctioning cattle, sheep, pigs and more at his family's California stockyards. Following Swinebroad's death in 1975, Tom became Keeneland's Director of Auctions and would serve here until his death in 2001. Cris, who joined Keeneland after Scott, auctioneered for the sales company until he died in 2020.
Like Swinebroad, Tom Caldwell was a commanding figure.
"A lot of people thought he was a very gentle giant, and he was for the most part," Scott said about his father. "But he was demanding of not only your loyalty but of your work ethic. He impressed upon me—and I'm sure on my brother, Cris, as well—is that this isn't about us. It isn't about the Caldwells. It isn't about Keeneland. It's about the horse.
"One of the things I realized as an auctioneer is that it's just as important -- if not more importantÿfor the seller to get say $2,500 more for his horse because he might have 10 in the sale, and that'll make 25 grand for him," Scott continued. "That could be the difference in whether he survives or not for the next year. Dad was a big pusher to make sure that we treated the consignor with the less expensive horses the same as we do the top-of-the line consignors. Push, push hard to make sure you get every dollar on every horse."
During his tenure at Keeneland, Scott sold many horses who would become standouts. One of them was future Triple Crown winner Justify, who brought $500,000 at the 2016 September Sale. In retrospect, Scott wonders if he could have secured a higher price for the colt.
"I knew the consignor (John D. Gunther of Glennwood Farm) well," he said. "I thought when (Justify) sold—above a reserve—that we've done a really good job. But when I watched (Justify) race two years later, I thought (Gunther is) probably thinking I could have got him a lot more (money)."
While retired from Keeneland, Scott will continue as an auctioneer at one- or two-day events in California, selling automobiles through his affiliation with CarMax and selling racing American Quarter Horses yearlings at the upcoming Los Alamitos Equine Sale. Meanwhile, he'll be thinking of Keeneland.
"I'm probably going to be crying a little bit every time I talk to (Keeneland Vice President of Sales) Tony Lacy," Scott said. "I mean, this wasn't an easy decision for me by a long shot. One of the things I'll miss the most is the team at Keeneland. That team is not only the auction team, but the people who clean the stalls, rake the leaves and work at the racetrack."
"The legacy of the Caldwell family at Keeneland sales is one of the most notable chapters in our history," said Lacy, who joined Keeneland in 2021 after two decades as a consignor with Four Star Sales. "The dedication of three members of the Caldwell family over two generations was instrumental in making Keeneland auctions the best anywhere. I'm so proud to have worked with Scott and become his friend. We wish Scott and Leslie and their family all the best."
Scott and Leslie, who married in 1973, have two sons, Ramsay and Kenny, and four grandchildren ranging in age from 12 to 21. (Both sons are automobile auctioneers. Ramsay worked for a time as a Keeneland auctioneer in the 2000s and was a bid spotter at last year's Championship Sale at Del Mar.)
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