From the NTRA ...
KEENELAND SEPTEMBER AUCTION STARTS MONDAY WITH RECORD NUMBER FOR SALE
A record 4,891 horses are cataloged for Keeneland's September Yearling Sale, which begins Monday, September 13 and continues for 14 days through September 27. The total number of horses cataloged is 239 more than the previous record set in 2000. Last year, 4,294 horses were cataloged for sale.
The September Sale is the largest and most diverse yearling auction in the world, drawing buyers from everywhere. At the 2003 sale, international purchases totaled more than $83 million.
"The Keeneland September Sale is the global marketplace for yearlings," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales. "Because of the breadth and depth of the catalog, there are multiple choices available in every price range."
Last year's September Sale set records for median ($34,000), average ($92,329), number of head sold (2,969), average for filly ($79,833) and average for colt ($102,706). It was the second-largest-grossing yearling auction with sales totaling $274,125,300 for the 12-day auction. Twenty-seven horses were sold for $1 million or more.
Some of the sport s biggest stars are graduates of the September Sale, including Pleasantly Perfect who has won two of the world's richest races-the $3.6 million Dubai World Cup in 2004 and the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge last year. Three other Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships winners from last year are graduates of Keeneland September-Adoration (Distaff), Cajun Beat (Sprint) and Johar (John Deere Turf).
TVG will offer exclusive live network coverage of the Keeneland September Sale next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (September 13-15), with reports from the Keeneland Sales Pavilion beginning each day at 1:00 p.m. (ET) and continuing until 7:00 p.m. (ET) Coverage is presented by Lane s End.
"Covering the major Thoroughbred sales has become a staple for TVG, and once again we will be at Keeneland to provide our viewers with all the key results and excitement from what is the world s premier sale," said TVG Vice President/Executive Producer Tony Allevato. "If history repeats itself, our viewers will get a first look at many of our sport's future stars as they walk through the Keeneland sales ring."