Keeneland September to Run as Planned

Media Release - Saturday April 11

Keeneland’s 2020 September Yearling Sale, the world’s most significant Thoroughbred auction, will begin as planned on Monday, September 14.

“This auction is vital not only to Keeneland, but to the entire Thoroughbred industry and the Central Kentucky community at large,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “The Keeneland sales team is moving forward full steam with plans for the September Sale. Like every aspect of life right now, there are unknowns and we do not have all the answers yet. However, one thing is certain: We are committed to work in partnership with our consignors and buyers to provide the same world-class marketplace for which Keeneland is known.”

Entry deadline for the September Sale remains Friday, May 1. However, those horses entered but withdrawn from the sale by Friday, June 12, will not pay any portion of the entry fee. 

“We understand that normal inspection calendars have been upended, and we hope that by extending the withdrawal deadline to June 12 we remove any hesitancy on the part of breeders and consignors to enter every yearling they consider a possible September Sale candidate on May 1,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “The goal is to continue to move the process forward, but extend the final planning window by six weeks without any financial consequences.”

The September Sale format will mirror last year’s schedule: a three-day Book 1 (Sept. 14-16), dark day on Thursday, Sept. 17, two-day Book 2 (Sept. 18-19), followed by Week 2 of the sale.

Advertisement

Please click here for the full schedule of September Sale deadlines available on Keeneland.com.

“Our hope is to conduct the September Sale under normal circumstances, but be assured we are planning for all contingencies because our entire focus is to deliver a successful sale in September,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “We will be adaptable depending on the challenges we face.

“Keeneland will be communicating regularly with our consignors and buyers over these next several months, but if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our sales team,” Elliston added.    

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Wyong
Trial watchers have been impressed in recent weeks with the efforts of the Bjorn Baker trained King’s Legacy colt Whatalegacy and he duly made a winning debut at Wyong on Sunday.
Ruling Court Dies of Laminitis
Hugely talented Justify colt Ruling Court has been a headline horse since May last year when Godolphin paid €2.3million for him at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale and he is back in the headlines overnight with the tragic news of his euthanasia due to laminitis.
Ones to Watch – Kembla - 3YOs to Follow
At the start of spring there is a plethora of talented 3YO’s all trying to get on the board with a win to hopefully progress to stakes class and at Kembla on Saturday we saw three well-bred maiden winners that would all have designs on Black Type.
Vale, Naturale
On our recent trip to Victoria for the stallion parades we had the pleasure of staying at Gilgai Farm where we met the lovely Naturale, the unraced sister to Black Caviar, who had a difficult life and achieved fame and fortune as the dam of champion sire Ole Kirk.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 29
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Green Letter Day For Yulong As Treasurethe Moment Wins Memsie Stakes
With four individual Group victories on Saturday in the Yulong silks, no one could deny that Treasurethe Moment’s $750,000 Group 1 MRC Memsie Stakes (1400m) winning performance outshone those of Grand Prairie, Tycoon Star and Magic Time earlier in the day.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 30
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Invincible Colt Wins on Debut
The Michael Freedman stable have been patient with good looking I Am Invincible colt Transgress and with the first good track at a provincial meeting for quite some time at Wyong on Sunday they decided to unleash Transgress and were well rewarded.
Hellbent Mare Cracks $3million with G3 Cockram Victory
When Grahame Begg has talented mare Magic Time ready to fire first up she rarely misses and the six year-old daughter of Hellbent produced her A game at Caulfield on Saturday to win the Group III MRC Cockram Stakes (1200m) as favourite.
Stars on Show at Caulfield Spring Opener
The 2025 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival officially bursts out of the gates this Saturday with the Stow Storage Caulfield Spring Opener, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season, the $750,000 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes.