The 2020 Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (“HISA”) created the Authority as the independent governing structure charged with proposing and enforcing health-and-safety standards subject to consideration and adoption by the Federal Trade Commission over Thoroughbred racing in the United States. The independent nominating committee reviewed more than 160 nominations, evaluating nominees from within and outside of the industry. In addition to ensuring a diversity of professional backgrounds, the committee took into consideration geographic, racial and gender diversity.

Under the authority and oversight of the Federal Trade Commission, the Authority board and standing committee members are responsible for developing, implementing and enforcing a series of uniform anti-doping, medication control, racetrack safety and operational rules to enhance equine safety and protect the integrity of the sport.

Board of Directors

The nine-person board includes five members from outside of the Thoroughbred industry and four industry representatives. The two chairs of the Authority's standing committees serve on the board of directors, and the board is expected to select the board chair at its first meeting. The board of directors includes:

• Steve Beshear is an independent director from Kentucky. He served two terms as the 61st governor of Kentucky. An attorney by trade, Beshear has an extensive background in public service in Kentucky, including terms as Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
• Adolpho Birch is an independent director from Tennessee who will chair the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Standing Committee of the Authority. Birch is senior vice president of business affairs and chief legal officer for the Tennessee Titans. Prior to joining the Titans, he spent 23 years at the National Football League's headquarters, with responsibilities that included administration and enforcement of the NFL's policies related to the integrity of the game, substance abuse, performance-enhancing drugs, gambling and criminal misconduct.
• Leonard Coleman is an independent director from Florida. Coleman is the former president of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. He joined Major League Baseball in 1992 as the executive director of market development. Previously, Coleman was a municipal finance banker for Kidder, Peabody and Company and served as commissioner of both the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and Department of Energy. Coleman is also a former board member of Churchill Downs.
• Ellen McClain is an independent director from New York. McClain serves as the chief financial officer for Year UP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the opportunity divide by ensuring that young adults gain the skills, experience and support that will empower them through careers and higher education. From 2009-2013, she served in various leadership roles with the New York Racing Association (NYRA), including as its president.
• Charles Scheeler is an independent director from Maryland. Scheeler is a retired partner at DLA Piper. He has an extensive legal career in the private and public sector. Prior to joining DLA Piper, Scheeler was a federal prosecutor in the US Attorney's Office and served as lead counsel to former Senator George Mitchell in his investigation of performance-enhancing substance use in Major League Baseball. Scheeler also has extensive experience investigating and monitoring Division I athletics programs' compliance with the National College Athletics Association.
• Joseph De Francis is an industry director from Maryland. De Francis is the managing partner of Gainesville Associates, LLC. Prior to this role, he was a senior executive for various Thoroughbred racing entities including the Maryland Jockey Club and Magna Entertainment Corporation. De Francis has served on several industry and charitable organization boards, including the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (“NTRA”) and the Johns Hopkins Heart Institute, among others.
• Susan Stover is an industry director from California, and she will chair the Racetrack Safety Standing Committee of the Authority. Stover is a professor of surgical and radiological science and the University of California, Davis and an expert in clinical equine surgery and lameness. Her research investigates the prevalence, distribution and morphology of equine stress fractures, risk factors and injury prevention, as well as the impact of equine injuries on human welfare.
• Bill Thomason is an industry director from Kentucky. Thomason is the immediate past president of Keeneland, a role he served in from 2012 to 2020. Throughout his career, Thomason has been engaged with several industry organizations, including the NTRA and American Horse Council, as well as several civic and corporate boards, including the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation.
• DG Van Clief is an industry director from Virginia. Van Clief retired in 2006 from serving as president of the Breeders' Cup since 1996. A long-time racing executive, Van Clief was chairman of the Fasig-Tipton Company and a trustee of the Jockey Club Foundation. For several generations, his family operated Nydrie Stud in Virginia, and his grandmother bred 1947 Kentucky Derby winner Jet Pilot.

“Over the past several months, the nominating committee carefully reviewed each nominee with a deep and enduring understanding of the important responsibility entrusted to them in selecting the inaugural board and standing committees of this essential entity charged with standardizing safety in the industry” said nominating committee co-chair Nancy Cox. “Thanks to the time and effort of the committee, we have a diverse board and standing committees with broad expertise who will bring the thoughtfulness and skill needed in implementing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.”

Anti-Doping and Medication Control Standing Committee

The committee is comprised of four independent members and three industry members:

• Adolpho Birch, chair (Tennessee, independent director) – see above
• Jeff Novitzky is an independent member from Nevada. Novitzky is Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) vice president of athlete health and performance. In this role, he partnered with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to implement UFC's anti-doping program. Prior to UFC, Novitzky was a federal agent for the Food and Drug Administration and an investigator for the Internal Revenue Service.
• Kathleen Stroia is an independent member from Florida. Stroia is senior vice president of sport sciences and medicine and transitions for the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the WTA's representative on the board of the Society for Tennis Medicine and Science. Stroia has served on various committees related to her sport, including the International Tennis Federation Medical Commission, the Tennis Anti-doping Committee and the U.S. Tennis Association Sport Science Committee, among others.
• Jerry Yon is an independent member from Florida. Yon is a retired gastroenterologist and previous member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (“KHRC”), where he helped establish the Kentucky Equine Medical Director position, and is a past chair of the Equine Drug Research Council, which advises the KHRC on drug testing, regulations and penalties.
• Jeff Blea is an industry member from California. Blea is equine medical director at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a partner/owner in Von Bluecher, Blea, Hunkin, Inc., an equine veterinary medicine and surgery practice. Blea has served on and led several equine industry organizations including the American Association of Equine Practitioners (“AAEP”), Southern California Equine Foundation and the NTRA's Safety and Integrity Alliance.
• Mary Scollay is an industry member from Kentucky. Scollay is the executive director and chief operating officer of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), one of the industry's foremost scientific authorities on performance enhancing drugs, therapeutic medications and laboratory testing. She has served as a racing regulator since 1987 and is an active member in several industry and professional practice organizations including the AAEP and the International Group of Specialist Racing Veterinarians.
• Scott Stanley is an industry member from Kentucky. Stanley is a professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Kentucky's Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and director of the Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. A research scientist with more than 30 years of regulatory drug testing experience, his work focuses on developing new anti-doping approaches and the establishment of the Equine Biological Passport project.

Racetrack Safety Standing Committee

The committee is comprised of four independent members and three industry members:

• Susan Stover, chair (California, industry director) – see above
• Lisa Fortier is an independent member from New York. Fortier is the James Law Professor of Surgery, Equine Park Faculty Director and associate chair for Graduate Education and Research at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her primary clinical and translational research interests are in equine orthopedic surgery, tendonitis, arthritis and regenerative medicine.
• Peter Hester is an independent member from Kentucky. Hester is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and previously worked for equine veterinary surgeon William Reed at Belmont Park. While in medical school, he was a night watchman at Ballindaggin Farm and has maintained a passion for the sport and rider safety.
• Paul Lunn is an independent member from North Carolina. Lunn is dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. Previously he was a professor and administrator at Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lunn's scholarly interests are in equine immunology and infectious disease.
• Carl Mattacola is an independent member from North Carolina. Mattacola is dean of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro School of Health and Human Sciences. Prior to this, he was associate dean of academic and faculty affairs for the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky. Mattacola's research has focused on neuromuscular, postural and functional considerations in the treatment and rehabilitation of lower extremity injury.
• Glen Kozak is an industry member from New York. Kozak is senior vice president of operations and capital projects for the New York Racing Association's (NYRA) facility and track operations, which include Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Racetrack and others. Prior to joining NYRA, Kozak worked for the Maryland Jockey Club as vice president of facilities and racing surfaces.
• John Velazquez is an industry member from New York. Velazquez is one of the most accomplished and respected jockeys in the history of horse racing, having won almost 6,250 races. He is North America's all-time leading money-earning jockey and holds the record for most graded stakes wins. He is a board member of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund and co-chairman of the Jockeys' Guild. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012.

“The overwhelming response to the call for nominees is a clear example of the industry's interest in and commitment to addressing the safety needs in this sport,” said Leonard Coleman, co-chair of the nominating committee and incoming board member. “The members of the Authority's two standing committees bring extraordinary knowledge to the process of developing uniform standards in anti-doping and medication control and racetrack safety—a critical need for the horseracing industry.”

Members of the board of directors and standing committees underwent a comprehensive screening process, and the members of the board of directors and any independent member of a standing committee are subject to HISA's strict conflict of interest restrictions to ensure the Authority's independence and integrity.

“On behalf of the Authority, we want to thank the lawmakers who sponsored and supported this legislation in Congress, as well as the members of the nominating committee for their time, effort and professionalism,” said Cox.

Today's announcement received praise and support from Congressional leaders who shepherded the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act last December.

“The official formation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is the critical next step in safeguarding this cherished sport. I'm grateful to University of Kentucky Vice President Nancy Cox, and the other members of the nominating committee for their diligence in selecting respected individuals to serve on thoroughbred racing's independent governing body, said U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who introduced the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in the Senate and led it to enactment. “With uniform, national standards for medication-use and track safety, we can address the challenges facing horse racing and preserve one of Kentucky's signature industries for generations to come. Along with all horse racing fans, I look forward to the Authority's work to protect horses and jockeys and to give every competitor a fair shot at the winner's circle.”

“Today, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Nominating Committee put forward an impressive slate of individuals that will lead the Thoroughbred racing industry forward,” said Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06). “This group of regionally and professionally diverse individuals will guide the implementation of uniform standards of safety and competition. I want to thank each member for volunteering their time and talents to serving this vital industry. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act is a historic reform that will strengthen Kentucky's signature industry for generations to come.”

“Reforming the noble sport of horse racing—and implementing the high standards we established in our Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act—will require a deft, experienced and compassionate group of hands that can balance the historic and geographically diverse character of this sport's past with a resounding and ethical vision for its bright future. The group of leaders advanced by the nominating committee today has what it takes to meet that challenge, and I look forward to working with them to ensure they get the job done for the sake of our equine athletes and the many people and communities who depend on them,” said Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY-20).

Additional information on HISA can be found at hisaus.org.

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) led the Senate Monday night in passing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which was included in the year-end government funding bill. The legislation now goes to President Trump's desk to become law. Senator McConnell introduced the bipartisan legislation in September, only days after the 146^th Kentucky Derby, to recognize a uniform, national standard for Thoroughbred racing.

“Kentucky's cherished horseracing traditions deserve to be protected. I'm proud the Senate agreed to my legislation to preserve our signature racing industry and the 24,000 workers who support it,” said Senator McConnell. “With the leadership of Congressman Andy Barr and the partnership of sport leaders, horse advocates, and fans, we're one step closer to promoting fairness and safety across Thoroughbred racing. As Majority Leader, I made this Kentucky-focused legislation a top priority in the Senate. I look forward to this major advancement for our beloved sport becoming law.”

The House of Representatives passed the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in September led by U.S. Congressmen Andy Barr (KY-06) and Paul Tonko (NY-20). U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) — Senators representing states with prominent racetracks — were original cosponsors in the Senate.

“With today's passage of HISA in Congress we are in the final stretch of achieving the most transformational and consequential reform of the Thoroughbred horseracing industry since enactment of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978,” said Congressman Barr. “For almost a decade, I have worked with industry stakeholders and my Congressional colleagues to build consensus around reforms that will protect equine athletes and strengthen confidence and international competitiveness in the sport. I am proud to champion this historic, bipartisan legislation with Congressman Paul Tonko and Leader McConnell and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law.”

In August, Senator McConnell and Congressman Barr joined horseracing leaders in Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World, to announce an agreement years in the making to create national standards for the sport. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will be an independent regulatory authority, similar to other professional sports, to set medication use and safety protocols.

The bipartisan legislation has earned broad support from trainers, breeders, jockeys, and other leaders of the Thoroughbred racing industry:

“Senator McConnell's leadership has been critical in bringing the Thoroughbred industry together and prioritizing the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act,” said Bill Carstanjen, chief executive officer, Churchill Downs Incorporated. “This is a pivotal moment for the future of horseracing, a sport that will now be governed by world class, uniform standards across the United States.”

“The passage of HISA is a landmark moment for the Thoroughbred racing community's ongoing efforts to ensure our horses are running under the safest and most transparent conditions possible and to protect the integrity of the sport for our athletes, horsemen and fans. The independent Authority established by HISA will bring a level of consistency and accountability that will improve our sport for years to come as they work to develop and implement uniform anti-doping, medication control and operational measures. Keeneland is honored to have been involved in this ground-breaking legislation,” said Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason jointly with president-elect Shannon Arvin.

“This marks the single most significant safety and integrity development in the history of Thoroughbred racing. This moment also demonstrates that great progress can be accomplished when the industry works together,” said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup. “We recognize that there is more to be done and we look forward to working with our counterparts to build on this momentum and further improve the sport for generations to come.

“Breeders' Cup thanks House and Senate leadership for their support and applauds Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for bringing the industry together to build consensus on meaningful reforms and regulations. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Martha McSally (R-AZ), along with Representatives Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) were also instrumental in this all-hands-on-deck effort to making racing safer and more transparent. HISA will increase public confidence in one of our country's oldest sports by creating uniform anti-doping and medication control and racing operations programs that will be developed and enforced by an independent Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (the Authority). Breeders' Cup is proud to have played a role in this effort.”

“I'd like to thank Senate Majority Leader McConnell for diligently focusing on getting this much-needed bill included in the must-pass Omnibus Appropriations Bill,” said Stuart S. Janney, III, chairman of The Jockey Club. “Leader McConnell has been a powerful force when it comes to promoting and supporting the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky and throughout the nation. With the passage of this bill, we restore confidence with our fans that the competition is clean, the game is fair and the horse and rider are protected.”

“We thank Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his pivotal role in the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) by the U.S. Senate,” said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA).“We look forward to President Trump signing the HISA into law and by doing so, commencing the establishment of an independent and well-informed central authority that will ensure the integrity of our sport and the safety of our human and equine athletes nationwide.”

“This is a monumental step forward that will help secure the future of Thoroughbred racing in the United States,” said Dave O'Rourke, president & CEO of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). “For the first time, the sport will have a unified set of national safety and integrity standards to replace an outdated system that relied on patchwork regulation. The HISA will achieve the type of reforms long supported and advanced by NYRA, including a national approach to medication control and strongest anti-doping authority the sport has ever seen. This legislation will further modernize horseracing and arrives at a critical juncture in its history. NYRA looks forward to the work that lies ahead.”

“This is the day that the members of the Water Hay Oats Alliance (WHOA) have long been waiting for,” said Staci Hancock, managing member of the Water Hay Oats Alliance. “Since 2012 our grassroots movement has supported the passage of federal legislation to prohibit the use of performance-enhancing drugs in horseracing. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) brings much needed drug and medication reform, as well as national track safety standards, to our sport. It is with great pride and complete satisfaction that WHOA celebrates the bill's passage. We thank Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House sponsors, Congressmen Andy Barr and Paul Tonko, for getting it across the finish line.”

Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, and Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund jointly stated:

“This is a blue ribbon moment in the history of American horseracing, and this well-crafted measure sets the bar high and is a reminder that goodwill is indispensable in our politics. Working together with stakeholders to get it across the finish line, Senator McConnell and other leaders have helped to put the industry on a strong path to positive reforms. With their success in brokering an agreement with disparate stakeholders, and their dedicated work in the stretch run, Majority Leader McConnell, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Dianne Feinstein and Martha McSally and Reps. Andy Barr and Paul Tonko have risen to the occasion, building a broad base of support for lasting and meaningful change.”

Additional comments from throughout the industry:

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“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution for the past 20 years,” Hieronymus said. “Keeneland’s Broadcast Services is synonymous with excellence. We have raised the bar for our industry and I am proud of this legacy. I’m grateful to my amazing crew and the countless relationships I have made throughout my career and I’m excited to continue my work with the Keeneland team while also expanding my work in the industry.”

“On behalf of the entire Keeneland family, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to G.D. for his leadership, passion and commitment to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “While G.D. has always celebrated the rich history of our sport, he continues to pave the way for innovations that strengthen racing. We wish G.D. all the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued collaborations with Keeneland.”

Joining the Keeneland team in July 2000 as the Director of Broadcast Services after 19 years at Hammond Communications, Hieronymus celebrated many groundbreaking achievements and award-winning productions, including:

• Development of the first high definition control room at a Thoroughbred race track in North America.
• Seven-time recipient of the International Simulcast Award.
• 2004 Eclipse Award recipient for Local Television Achievement.
• Directing award-winning commercials and features for Keeneland, Thoroughbred farms and other industry partners.
• Serving as director of photography for the Kentucky Derby Museum film “The Greatest Race,” which continues to be featured today.
• Winner of the 2012 Charles W. Engelhard Award from the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for outstanding service and coverage in media for the Thoroughbred industry.

In addition to his continued collaboration with Keeneland, G.D. looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laura, and daughters, Kelly and Lindsay.

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“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution for the past 20 years,” Hieronymus said. “Keeneland's Broadcast Services is synonymous with excellence. We have raised the bar for our industry and I am proud of this legacy. I'm grateful to my amazing crew and the countless relationships I have made throughout my career and I'm excited to continue my work with the Keeneland team while also expanding my work in the industry.”

“On behalf of the entire Keeneland family, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to G.D. for his leadership, passion and commitment to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “While G.D. has always celebrated the rich history of our sport, he continues to pave the way for innovations that strengthen racing. We wish G.D. all the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued collaborations with Keeneland.”

Hieronymus began his career in the Thoroughbred industry in Lexington in 1981 at Hammond Communications, where he served for 19 years and was instrumental in the company's growth and success. After leaving his position as Vice President of Production at Hammond, Hieronymus joined the Keeneland team in July 2000 as the Director of Broadcast Services.

During his time at Keeneland, Hieronymus celebrated many groundbreaking achievements and award-winning productions, including:

o Development of the first high definition control room at a Thoroughbred race track in North America;

o Seven-time recipient of the International Simulcast Award;

o 2004 Eclipse Award recipient for Local Television Achievement;

o Directing award-winning commercials and features for Keeneland, Thoroughbred farms and other industry partners;

o Serving as director of photography for the Kentucky Derby Museum film “The Greatest Race,” which continues to be featured today; and

o Winner of the 2012 Charles W. Engelhard Award from the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for outstanding service and coverage in media for the Thoroughbred industry.

“While G.D. has and always will be a member of the Keeneland family, his talents have benefited the entire Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland is committed to continuing our support of these events and programs that mean so much to our sport.”

True to Keeneland's mission, Hieronymus has devoted his time and talents to benefit the Central Kentucky community and the broader Thoroughbred industry. He is currently a Trustee of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Under his leadership, Keeneland Broadcast Services annually provides direction and production support for such events as the NTRA Eclipse Awards, KTA-KTOB Kentucky Derby Trainers Dinner, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit at Keeneland, Thoroughbred Club of America's Honored Guest Dinner, the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony many more.

Hieronymus' community engagement includes work with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, where he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2013, as well as previous involvement with the Transylvania University Parent Council, LexArts, SummerFest at Woodland Park and the Kentucky Film Commission.

In addition to his continued collaboration with Keeneland, G.D. looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laura, and daughters, Kelly and Lindsay.

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“Keeneland ends this fall with a sense of gratitude for the hard work of everyone who participated in the success of the September Yearling and November Breeding Stock Sales, the fall race meet and Breeders' Cup,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason, who will retire Dec. 31 after a decade of service to Keeneland. “Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global horse industry, the fact that we were able to conduct our fall events on the dates originally scheduled is a major accomplishment that should be celebrated by all involved.”

The November Sale is a globally important source of quality bloodstock, and this year's sale reflected welcomed stability in the marketplace.

“We owe the strength of the September and November Sales to the tremendous efforts of our consignors, buyers and their staffs, who, despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, brought quality horses to market and fully participated at every level,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “We have all moved mountains this fall, and during these tough times, we are pleased that so many buyers from around the world made arrangements to be here or be represented and that they took advantage of the various bidding platforms Keeneland made available to them.”

For the auction, held Nov. 9-18, Keeneland recorded gross sales of $151,019,300 for 2,198 horses, for an average of $68,708 and a median of $23,000.

The 2019 November Sale, which spanned 12 sessions, had 2,570 horses sell in the ring for $193,316,100, for an average of $75,220 and a median of $25,000.

Keeneland conducted the 2020 November Sale with extensive COVID-19 protocols similar to those in place for the September Sale for the health and safety of participants. In addition to providing online bidding, Keeneland expanded its phone bidding service to accommodate remote buyers while it offered bidding from the outdoor Show Barn just behind the Sales Pavilion to permit greater social distancing.

Online bidding, which Keeneland introduced at the September Sale, continued to gain popularity as 279 horses sold over the internet for $16,274,300. Of particular note is the fact that more horses sold each day via the internet during the second week of the auction than during the first week. Leading the online purchases was Grade 1 winner Ollie's Candy, who raced two days before the start of the sale in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland and sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to K I Farm of Japan for $1.65 million.

“One of the silver linings of this unprecedented time has been the innovations we've successfully implemented with regard to internet bidding and enhanced phone bidding,” Arvin said. “People have found creative ways to participate in the sale and see the horses when they can't be right here in the way in which we are accustomed.”

Despite the logistical and operational challenges presented by the pandemic, including travel restrictions that affected a number of regular international attendees, the November Sale produced solid results.

“The enthusiasm for quality horses and the participation of major domestic and foreign buyers, many of whom remained active well into the second week of the sale, is a testament to the resiliency of this industry,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “There was a healthy mix of U.S. and international interests representing Europe, Japan, Korea, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, among others, as well as several new buyers emerging on the scene. Hats off to consignors, who were very good about marketing their horses, either directly or via Keeneland's website, to remote buyers. We know this hasn't been an easy environment to navigate, and we appreciate the efforts all have made to participate either in person or through use of the available technology.”

The premier Book 1 on Nov. 9 produced nine horses who brought $1 million and more, led by two offerings purchased by the auction's leading buyer, Larry Best's OXO Equine: Concrete Rose and Indian Miss.

Grade 1 winner Concrete Rose, a 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, was consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Lane's End, agent for Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing. Indian Miss, an 11-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie who is the dam of champion Mitole, was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, in foal to Into Mischief. Three days before the sale began, her 2-year-old colt, Hot Rod Charlie, was second in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland.

Best bought 17 horses for $7,965,000. Eight of his purchases were weanlings, topped by a colt by Mastery for $450,000. He continued to purchase weanlings through the sale's fifth session.

The November Sale's second-leading buyer was Matt Dorman's Determined Stud, a new operation in Maryland that acquired 14 horses for $4.53 million with Phil Schoenthal, agent. Other prominent domestic buyers included Louisiana's Coteau Groves Farm/Cary Bloodstock, agent, who spent $3,272,000 for 13 horses as well as such successful Central Kentucky operations as Spendthrift Farm, Hunter Valley Farm, agent, and Claiborne Farm, agent.

The sale's third-leading buyer was Yeguada Centurion of Spain's Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, who purchased 22 horses for $3,857,000 to mark his second year of sizable acquisitions at the November Sale. Shadai Farm, K I Farm, JS Company, Paca Paca Farm and Katsumi Yoshida of Japan ranked among the sale's leading buyers, as did other global entities such as Narvick International, David Redvers Bloodstock, Arthur Hoyeau, agent, and Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

The worldwide appeal of the November Sale was evident when Narvick International paid $1.85 million for Cherokee Maiden, a 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor from the family of 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality. Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, consigned her as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Joining Ollie's Candy, a 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride, as another November Sale offering who raced in this year's Breeders' Cup was Lady Prancealot, who was fourth in the Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf and sold to Shadai Farm for $1.6 million. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned both Ollie's Candy and Lady Prancealot as racing or broodmare prospects.

Other seven-figure horses were Canadian champion Holy Helena, in foal to Quality Road ($1.5 million to Spendthrift Farm), Houtzen, in foal to Curlin ($1.5 million to Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings) and the racing or broodmare prospect Gingham ($1 million to Claiborne Farm, agent).

“The market in both September and November was a lot deeper than we, and many others, thought it would be,” Keeneland Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde said. “But horsemen are optimistic. They see the end of this pandemic coming and they wanted to continue to participate. They still bought bloodstock because of blue sky ahead.”

Keeneland demonstrated flexibility in accepting supplemental entries to the November Sale catalog until the start of the auction. Supplements produced many of the auction's highest-priced broodmares, weanlings and horses of racing age.

Topping the Book 1 supplements were Unicorn Girl, dam of Grade 1-winning juvenile Jackie's Warrior, sold to Arthur Hoyeau, agent, for $850,000; Veronique, dam of undefeated Keeneland stakes winner and recent track record setter Nashville, purchased for $800,000 by James Delahooke, agent; and a weanling half-brother to Jackie's Warrior by American Pharoah purchased by M.V. Magnier for $600,000.

Energizing later sessions was the vibrant market for horses of racing age, a number of which were supplemented to the sale.

At $525,000, the high seller during the ninth day was graded stakes performer Hidden Scroll, a winning 4-year-old Hard Spun colt, who sold to Fergus Galvin, agent for Marc Detampel. WinStar Racing, agent for Juddmonte Farms, consigned the colt. Edgemont Road, a stakes-placed son of Speightstown supplemented to the sale, sold to Eddie Kenneally, agent for William K. Werner, for $275,000.

The day before, two horses of racing age who were supplemental entries – Grade 2-placed Bob and Jackie and Churchill Downs winner Alex Joon – sold for $190,000 and $120,000, respectively.

“We've been working on the racehorse segment of our catalog for the last couple of years,” Russell said. “WinStar was the first to come to us and try to design a portion of the sale around racehorses, and it has grown exponentially since. Going forward, we'll be looking to improve on it.”

Colts by the two most recent winners of the Triple Crown – Justify and American Pharoah – sold for $600,000 apiece to tie as the most expensive weanlings. Donati Lanni, agent, purchased the son of Justify, who was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent. Magnier acquired the aforementioned son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who is a half-brother to Jackie's Warrior.

Represented by his first crop, Justify was the leading sire of weanlings by average with five colts averaging $427,000. They also included the top-priced weanlings of the second ($475,000) and third sessions ($435,000).

Weanlings from the first crops of other Grade 1 winners Bolt d'Oro, City of Light and Mendelssohn also were well received with total sales for each sire exceeding $1 million.

“Fewer foals were cataloged this year, and the bidding for them was more competitive,” Russell said. “The strength of the foal market surprised many consignors who didn't enter their foals in the November Sale. Several major end users are now participating in the foal market, and that has pushed the pinhookers back a little. They probably haven't fulfilled all their orders, so we hope to see them at the January Horses of All Ages Sale.”

The number of horses sold in post-sale transactions – 88 horses for $6,796,000 as of sale end Wednesday – is a reflection of the strong trade. One was Book 1 offering Con Te Partiro, the globetrotting Group 1 winner sold privately for $1.6 million to David Redvers Bloodstock. Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, the 6-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy initially was reported as an RNA.

The leading covering sire by average was Quality Road, whose three in-foal mares averaged $911,667.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the November Sale's leading consignor for the fourth consecutive year and the 24 time since 1987. Taylor Made sold 208 horses for $18,957,600, including the aforementioned Ollie's Candy and Lady Prancealot as well as Expo Gold, dam of the 2020 Preakness-winning filly, Swiss Skydiver, for $950,000. In foal to Catholic Boy, Expo Gold sold to Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

During Wednesday's final session, 214 horses sold for $1,309,600, for an average of $6,120 and a median of $4,000. The high seller at $40,000 was Mutakaamil, a 4-year-old son of Tapit who sold to Jeff Engler, agent for Lea Farms. Bluewater Sales, agent, consigned the colt.

The post Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale Delivers Stable Marketplace appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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This distinctive collectible is a stunning all-white Maker's Mark bottle featuring the Breeders' Cup 2020 logo, a green wax Keeneland medallion, and a green and gold Keeneland strip stamp over purple wax sealing the bottle in the bourbon's trademark style.

The bottles will go on sale in limited quantities at select local retailers around Kentucky on Friday, October 30.

“On behalf of the men and women that the PDJF serves, we are grateful for the support of Keeneland and Maker's Mark for making the PDJF the charity beneficiary of the sales of these bottles commemorating the Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said PDJF President Nancy LaSala.

“Keeneland served the very first cases of Maker's Mark ever sold,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and Managing Director of Maker's Mark, whose grandparents founded the brand. “With that in mind, we wanted to commemorate the return of the Breeders' Cup to Keeneland and felt that supporting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund was the perfect way to celebrate our long partnership.”

Maker's Mark and Keeneland released a different commemorative bottle earlier this summer before Keeneland's Summer Meet in July, which featured the running of the Maker's Mark Mile, a Grade 1 turf race. That bottle sold out quickly with those proceeds also benefiting PDJF.

“This gorgeous Maker's Mark bottle is a wonderful way for our fans to celebrate the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland and to benefit the important work of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “We especially thank our partner, Maker's Mark, for their decades-long support of Keeneland and Thoroughbred racing.”

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“On behalf of Keeneland, our sincerest thanks to our fans across the country and around the world, and our racing participants, sponsors, industry and community partners and employees who enabled us to hold a safe, competitive Fall Meet during these unprecedented times,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason, who presided over his final race meet before his retirement on Dec. 31. “The silver lining of this pandemic has been the collaboration and creativity of various constituencies in their steadfast support of Thoroughbred racing and our philanthropic mission. There is a true spirit of coming together for the good of all.”

Though the Fall Meet was closed to the general public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans enthusiastically wagered more than $148 million on the 17 days of racing from Oct. 2-24.

“We continue to be humbled by the tremendous support of our fans; their passion for Keeneland is inspiring,” Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin said. “This track was created for people to enjoy the grounds and the thrill of racing in person. I know I speak for the entire Keeneland team and our horsemen when I say we can't wait to welcome our fans back to the track.”

All-sources wagering on live racing during the Fall Meet totaled $148,229,708, for an average daily handle of $8,719,395, down 7.5% from 2019. Last fall, all-sources wagering was a Keeneland record $160,207,916 for the 17-day Fall Meet.

Keeneland established a record Fall Meet Pick 5 handle of $868,303 on Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 3, besting the previous record of $794,689 set on opening Saturday in 2019.

The Fall Meet was conducted with only a limited number of participants and essential personnel in attendance, resulting in total on-track handle of $2,477,890, for average daily on-track handle of $145,758. In comparison, on-track handle totaled $17,320,852 for the 2019 Fall Meet.

“Historically, Keeneland ranks among the top tracks in North America in terms of average daily attendance and enjoys some of the highest on-track handle figures,”Keeneland Vice President of Racing Bob Elliston said. “The difference in all-sources wagering this fall versus last comes down to the loss in on-track wagering.” 

Fall Meet racing highlights
Keeneland purses remained among the richest in North America this fall, averaging $682,324 per day. Average starters per race was 8.1 compared to 9.5 during the 2019 Fall Meet. Field size was impacted this fall by pandemic-related travel restrictions and limitations on horses shipping in from other major racing jurisdictions.

Ten horses secured berths in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland with victories in Win & You're In stakes this fall. Among the Grade 1 victors were Darley Alcibiades winner Simply Ravishing (Juvenile Fillies-G1); Shadwell Turf Mile winner Ivar (BRZ) (Mile-G1); First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare winner Uni (GB) (Filly and Mare Turf-G1); Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Essential Quality (Juvenile-G1) and Juddmonte Spinster winner Valiance (Distaff-G1).

In other racing highlights:

• Harvey's Lil Goil grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off challengers to win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, the sixth Grade 1 event of the Fall Meet.
• Stoll Keenon Ogden, Keeneland's only legal counsel since its founding in the 1930s, celebrated its 10-year milestone sponsorship of the Phoenix (G2), won by Diamond Oops. With the victory, Diamond Oops earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
• Aunt Pearl (IRE) took the lead at the break and cruised to a 2½-length victory in stakes-record time to win the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) and win a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

“We appreciate the strong support of our owners, trainers and jockeys; their desire to participate at the highest levels of racing is what makes Keeneland so special,” Elliston said. “We look forward to cheering on many of our Fall Meet contenders at the Breeders' Cup here in two weeks.”

Fall Meet leaders
The Fall Meet featured a battle for the title of leading trainer and leading owner, while Tyler Gaffalione was the clear winner for leading jockey honors.

The race for leading trainer among Brad Cox, Mike Maker and Steve Asmussen was decided on the final day.

Cox won two races on closing day to increase his total to 15 and earn his second title, joining Spring 2018. His wins during the season included the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity with Essential Quality and JPMorgan Chase Jessamine with Aunt Pearl (IRE), two horses expected to return in the Breeders' Cup. Cox also had a three-win day on Oct. 18.

Maker ranked second in the trainer standings with 12 wins, while Asmussen recorded 11 victories to finish third.

Among jockeys, Tyler Gaffalione won 24 races to secure his third leading rider title following Fall 2018 and Summer 2020. Gaffalione's victories included the Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) on Got Stormy, another Breeders' Cup hopeful.

Finishing second and third, respectively, in the standings were Florent Geroux (16 wins) and Ricardo Santana Jr. (13 wins). The two riders each recorded three-win days: Geroux on Oct. 18 and Santana on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22.

Luis Saez won five of the 10 Fall Stars Weekend stakes: the opening-day Darley Alcibiades with Simply Ravishing; Saturday's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Essential Quality and Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select with Leinster; and Sunday's Juddmonte Spinster with Valiance and Bourbon (G3) with Mutasaabeq.

Earning its first title as leading owner was Mike Sisk's M and M Racing, which won five races with eight starters. Robertino Diodoro trained the M and M horses, and David Cohen was aboard every winner. Together, the trio won three races on Oct. 9.

Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton's Silverton Hill won four races during the meet. Five owners notched three wins apiece: Asmussen, Mohammed Al Maktoum et al's Godolphin, Ken and Sarah Ramsey,  Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm and Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm.

Nourish Lexington featured Fall Meet charity
Keeneland made it easy for fans no matter their location to watch and wager on the Fall Meet with Keeneland at Home Presented by UK HealthCare and Official Keeneland Watch Parties in Partnership with VisitLEX and the Bluegrass Hospitality Association.

Keeneland at Home fans and Keeneland Watch Party attendees had the opportunity to support Nourish Lexington, Keeneland's featured Fall Meet charity. By using the talents and resources of food service and hospitality employees displaced by the pandemic, Nourish Lexington has provided more than 160,000 scratch-made, nutritious meals for community members in need since April.

Partnerships with a philanthropic connection
True to its mission, Keeneland's commitment to support the community and the Thoroughbred industry remained unchanged as the track teamed with sponsors and racing-related partners to virtually conduct several popular Fall Meet special events and raise much-needed funds for worthwhile causes.

• A virtual edition of Make-A-Wish Day on Oct. 8 marked the 13th year that local Thoroughbred farms and organizations joined Keeneland to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This year, Keeneland and TVG along with Airdrie Stud, Ashford Stud, Flaxman Holdings, Gainesway, Godolphin, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lane's End Farm, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Spendthrift Farm participated. Keeneland donated $10,000 to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
• Keeneland teamed with UPS and City Barbecue to honor front-line health care workers, first responders, members of the military, teachers and others on Heroes Day, Oct. 18. Keeneland fans nominated deserving community heroes online. Three Central Kentuckians – Letitia Roark from Versailles, Laura Stark of Lexington and Thomas Shaddix from Stamping Ground – were selected as grand prize winners to receive a Keeneland Heroes Day at Home Tailgate from City Barbecue, $1,000 Visa gift card provided by UPS and other goodies. Twelve other nominees received $250 Visa gift cards provided by UPS.
• College Scholarship Day went digital on Oct. 23, awarding more than $30,000 in scholarships and dozens of prizes to students in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Coca-Cola.
• Juddmonte, sponsor of the Juddmonte Spinster, and Keeneland made a combined donation of $10,000 to the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) program, which provides hands-on internship opportunities for college students interested in careers in the horse industry. Many of the nearly 1,000 graduates of the KEMI program have found rewarding careers in diverse areas of the industry.
• Keeneland sponsor Kentucky Utilities challenged Keeneland fans with a matching campaign to support God's Pantry and Nourish Lexington with a $7,500 commitment. To support this initiative, please visit https://godspantry.org/donate/keeneland/
• With the help of its corporate partners, Keeneland thanked the hardworking community in the track's stable area on selected days during the Fall Meet with Nourish the Backstretch, an extension of Nourish Lexington. Participating partners include Anthem, Buffalo Trace, Claiborne Farm, Darley, Dixiana, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Juddmonte Farms, Lexus of Lexington, Pin Oak Stud, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Shadwell Farm, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, TVG and UK HealthCare.
• Keeneland and Lexus of Lexington, sponsor of the Lexus Raven Run (G2), made a combined commitment of $5,000 to The MAP Foundation/Woodhill Community Center. Lexington Leadership Foundation (LLF) and The MAP Foundation have partnered to provide the children, teens and families involved in LLF's Urban Impact Initiative and throughout the Lexington community a place where they can realize their potential to grow, succeed and lead.

2020 Fall Meet at a Glance (Oct. 2-24)

The post Pandemic Leads To Declines In Keeneland’s On-Track Wagering, Field Size At Fall Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Nick Nicholson, Keeneland President and CEO from 2000-2012, and J. David Smith Jr. of Stoll Keenon Ogden are retiring from the Keeneland Board.

All four new Directors began their service at the recent Advisory Board meeting. Reeves replaces Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin as Secretary of the Board.

“Gatewood, Aisling, Garrett and Sarah each provide the board with unique skill sets and business acumen that will help guide Keeneland as it navigates the future,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank them for their service to Keeneland.”

Gatewood Bell

Gatewood Bell, president of Cromwell Bloodstock, is the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland, following his father, Jimmy Bell, and grandfather, John A. Bell. Bell is a member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and a U.S. representative for Goffs sales agency. He previously worked for Kiaran McLaughlin and Nicoma Bloodstock and served as a jockey's agent for Fernando Jara.

Aisling Duignan

Aisling Duignan is Director of Bloodstock for Coolmore America. Ashford Stud, owned by John Magnier, is Coolmore's headquarters in the U.S. The farm stands Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.

Garrett O'Rourke

Garrett O'Rourke serves as General Manager of Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, where he has helped guide the American operation since 1992. Juddmonte, which has farms in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the U.S., is one of the leading breeders in the world, having bred 26 European and two U.S. classic winners, such as multiple champion and sire Frankel (GB) and Belmont (G1) winner Empire Maker. O'Rourke was named Farm Manager of the Year in 2001 by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club. He serves as a Director Emeritus of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and is on the Board of Trustees for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Sarah S. Reeves

Reeves is a member in Stoll Keenon Ogden's Lexington office and has been with the firm since 2010. She is part of the Business Services practice group and works primarily with clients in the Equine, Health Care and Alcohol & Hospitality industries. Reeves was recognized as a Rising Star by Kentucky Super Lawyers® and is a member of the Women Lawyers' Association of the Fayette County Bar Association. She serves on the board of Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The Keeneland Board comprises leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky community.

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Conducted over 12 days this year compared to 13 last term and with strict safety protocols in place, the 2020 September sale grossed $238,454,300 from 2,346 head sold. The gross 12 months ago was $359,789,700 from 2,850 sellers. This year’s average dipped 19.49% from $126,242 to $101,643; the median dropped 18.68% from $45,500 to $37,000.

The buy-back rate was 29.29% this year and 24.24% in 2019. Outs were higher this time as well from a smaller catalog (954, or 22.3% of the catalog vs. 882, 19%).

“The September Sale can be measured as a success given that in these uncertain times, the market proved there is still tremendous interest and money for quality racehorses at all levels,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said.

Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin added, “Everyone who participated should be applauded for their unprecedented efforts to make this market a reality. Keeneland is fortunate, in the midst of a pandemic, to be able to not only hold the September Sale but do so on its originally scheduled dates. I’m so proud of the Keeneland team who, immediately after the Spring Meet was canceled and the lockdown in Kentucky was announced in mid-March, began collaborating with state and local health officials, breeders, consignors, buyers and others in the Thoroughbred industry, to plan for the September Sale even as the landscape changed almost daily. The success of this sale is a testament to the cooperation among everyone involved and the resiliency of our industry.”

The sale topper was a $2-million Tapit colt out of GISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tara’s Tango (Unbridled’s Song) purchased during Book 1 last Monday for $2 million by a powerful partnership consisting of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bob LaPenta, Gainesway Farm and Winchell Thoroughbreds. He was consigned as hip 435 by Eaton Sales on behalf of Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Bred & Raised, which sold 30 horses for $9,911,000 through a variety of consignors.

There were a total of 15 seven-figure transactions compared to 22 last year, when a regally bred American Pharoah half-sister to Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn brought $8.2 million.

Among the positive 2020 takeaways was that the 15 million-plus sellers were bought by 14 different, mostly domestic entities, including some relatively new top-of-the market players who stepped in to fill the void left by the absence of Godolphin and relative quietness of Shadwell and the Coolmore contingent.

After a digital sale next week, Keeneland will shift its focus to its fall meet, then hosting a no-fans Breeders’ Cup Nov. 6 and 7, immediately followed by its November Breeding Stock Sale beginning Nov. 9.

“Given what we know today, we would anticipate that we will still be working under those same protocols [in November] that we’ve been working under in September,” Arvin noted.

Keeneland’s Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell added, “The November sale will be 10 days–it has been reduced by about a book this year, which we had anticipated going in. The difference between the September sale and the November sale is that the September sale [offerings are] the crop, and the November sale [offerings are] the factory. Breeders can retain their mares and weanlings and hope that 2021 will be a better market to offer that weanling as a yearling.”

Visit www.keeneland.com for more information.

Partnerships Step in As International Players Quiet

While Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin and Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd. were first and second-leading buyers at the 2018 and 2019 September sales, the 2020 renewal saw different entities–and particularly partnerships–making the largest expenditures. Godolphin did not make a single purchase this September (vs. 10 buys for $16 million 12 months ago), and  Shadwell spent $5,420,000 on nine buys compared to $11,070,000 on twice as many head in 2019.

“There were certain major players that weren’t playing in the market this year, and obviously that had a huge impact on Book 1,” Russell said. “We had been given an indication prior to the sale that Godolphin wouldn’t be playing at the level that they had been playing at last year.”

Meanwhile, “The Avengers”–the stallion-making group consisting of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and others–made the most purchases of any one entity, with 28 for a gross of $11.25 million. The conglomerate was responsible for purchasing GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief) for $350,000 at the 2018 September sale.

Agent Donato Lanni, representative for the Avengers and known for his close association with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, signed for a total of 33 purchases for $12,732,000.

While the bulk of purchases by the Avengers will eventually be heading to Baffert in California, an East Coast counterpart emerged this year, as Todd Pletcher clients Repole Stables and St Elias Stable took home 15 head for $6,380,000.

Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola’s stables co-campaigned last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso (Curlin), who was a $410,000 September grad himself.

“For that group of sought-after horses that several people might land on, I thought it was very strong. Just like any sale in the past, if you brought a really nice horse, you got rewarded,” said agent Conor Foley, whose Oracle Bloodstock was involved in 24 purchases for $3,673,500, ranging from $1.1 million down to $1,500. “It felt competitive–it probably would’ve been an unbelievable, off-the-charts sale if foreign buyers had been allowed. I thought it was competitive all the way through. I think that shows strength and belief in our industry, as 2020 has changed everything.”

Taylor Made Top Consignor Once Again

Taylor Made Sales Agency took up its usual spot as the leading September consignor by gross, selling 252 horses for $29,783,400 at an average of $118,188. Unsurprisingly, its overall numbers followed the same trends as the market at large. Last September, Taylor Made sold 307 head for $42,650,900.

When reached for comment midday Friday, breeder and consignor Carrie Brogden–formerly of Select Sales and selling for the first September under her family’s Machmer Hall banner–admitted that, despite some solid results for her own offerings including a $1.025 million Into Mischief filly (hip 405), it was difficult not to be somewhat discouraged by the statistics and current industry landscape. She specifically cited the front page of Friday’s TDN, which featured Sid Fernando’s Taking Stock column on the left (see Keeneland Numbers are Troubling) and Kentucky Supreme Court Ruling Could Put End to Historical Racing on the right.

“Our farm was really lucky–we had some homebreds who hit all the targets,” she said. “But, of the homebreds I had who didn’t hit the target, they sold. If I didn’t want to go through the 2-year-old sale or bring them home to race, I put them through with no reserve… When I’m putting these yearlings through with no reserve, it’s because in the back of my mind I’m thinking, ‘Okay, from the September sale to the 2-year-old sale in April–as long as I still have them–it’s going to run about $30,000. Do I want to put that much more into this horse to find out if he’s fast or slow or sound or unsound?’ If I have questions myself, I’m probably going to let someone else find out.”

Brogden said she expects more of the same heading into the final yearling sales of the season and the breeding stock auctions beginning in November.

“It’s a domino effect,” she said. “The 2-year-old pinhookers got crucified [in the spring], then it’s the [weanling to yearling] pinhookers who got crucified. Then it’s the breeders. Then, it’s coupled with the fact that we have no unity in our industry–it’s a perfect storm. The foal crop [will be down 7.3% for 2021], and it’s going do be down another 20% in record time. Until we get together and have a unified voice, it’s going to be more of the same… Our sport is being fractured left and right, and then when you put the economic part on to a fractured organization, it just slowly chips away at everything. People always say the same thing–everyone fights over the same shrinking piece of pie–and that’s exactly right.”

Into Mischief in Huge Demand

Spendthrift super sire Into Mischief has been responsible for plenty of high-dollar yearlings and 2-year-olds in the past, but 2020 has seen demand for his progeny reach another stratosphere. The nation’s leading sire, represented by the likes of aforementioned Derby winner Authentic and brilliant MGISW sophomore filly Gamine, started off yearling season with 17 sellers at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase grossing $6,745,000 ($396,745 average). His 57 yearlings to sell at Keeneland racked up receipts of $25,401,000–more than double the next sire–and his average of $445,632 was behind only that of Medaglia d’Oro (18 sold for $10,795,000 at an average of $599,722).

Online Bidding and Other Protocols Deemed Successful

Keeneland, in conjunction with Fasig-Tipton, introduced a series of protocols and policies for the September sale to increase safety and promote social distancing, including limiting attendance, adding  bid spotters in the show barn, increased capacity for phone bids and the offering online bidding.

For the sale, Keeneland received 1,857 bids on the internet and sold 126 horses electronically for gross receipts of $12,165,900. The top-priced horse to sell online was an $825,000 Tapit–Stopchargingmaria colt (hip 410) purchased by Japan’s Yuji Hasegawa out of the Gainesway draft.

“Any time you try something new–we held our breath a little bit to be sure the technology would work,” Arvin said. “We really were very happy with our technology partner on that, Xcira, it felt like all of that went just as smoothly as we could ever have hoped. The participation was really significant.”

Russell added, “The whole experience we had through these last two weeks with having three different bidding areas on the sales grounds; having telephone bidding; having internet bidding, we threw everything at it. It was very well received by everybody. Having three bidding sections here, and on the internet, probably slowed down the sale a little bit more than we would probably like, but the buyers were happy to stay [later] and buy, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Among the buyers active on the internet was the Green family’s D.J. Stable, which signed for 12 head for $1,975,000.

“I thought the bidding process was relatively seamless,” said D.J.’s Jon Green, who placed his bids at home in New Jersey while relying on agents on the grounds for physical inspections. “Certainly, when we were interested in bidding on a horses, the bid was accepted and I won’t say it was exactly like being in the pavilion–there’s a certain energy you miss out on by being 1000 miles away, online–but as far as the process of bidding, having the bid accepted and ultimately buying horse, it was as close to buying the horse in person as it could be.”

D.J. bought five horses who RNA’d in the ring.

“For the most part, once a horse went through the ring and didn’t bring the reserve–especially earlier in the sale–I think the consignors and sellers were much more readily interested in negotiating and working out a sale,” Green noted. “I think as the sale went on, consignors and sellers did a much better job of reacting to the marketplace and lowering reserves.”

Cupid Colt Tops Final Session

A colt from the first crop of GISW Cupid topped Friday’s final KEESEP session on a winning bid of $45,000 from Scott Gelnger, agent. The son of MGSP turfer Long Approach (Broad Brush) was consigned to the sale by his breeder, Stonehaven Steadings, as hip 4116.

A total of 167 yearlings changed hands on the sale’s final day for $1,163,400 in gross receipts at an average of $6,884 and median of $4,500. The RNA rate was 11.5%.

What They’re Saying

“I’m just happy that the sale was able to be completed. I’m blown away day by day by the amazing horsemanship of the grooms and the show men and show women–it’s inspiring. Without them, the sale wouldn’t go on.” —Conor Foley, Oracle Bloodstock

“It’s a really good crop of yearlings, by some young and exciting stallions. For the pinhookers, they have no choice–they have to play in Books 3, 4 and 5 [and look for] good physicals, by commercially viable stallions that look to have bright futures… They probably weren’t so comfortable in Books 1 and 2 as they have been in years past just because of how tough it was at the 2-year-old sales this year.” —Keeneland Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde

“Because of COVID, there was a lot of uncertainty–not just in the Thoroughbred market, but in everything. After COVID really took hold in April, we adjusted our projections on what we thought our yearlings would bring. Fortunately, we had a great sale. We’ve not only exceeded our revised projections but we’ve exceeded our original projections.” —Tom Hinkle, Hinkle Farms

“I think that there’s definitely value in the older stallions. People get very excited about the newest sires and the top freshmen. Personally, I was surprised that so many new sires were producing higher-than-average sales when there were very viable, proven stallions like Bernardini and Hard Spun–basically every older stallion besides Into Mischief–where you could find value in their yearlings… There was a value play for the tried-and-true sires who had 40 or 50 horses in the sale and you could pick up some of them at a much more reasonable price.” —Jon Green, D.J. Stable

“I definitely think with the vetting, sesamoiditis was viewed even more harshly than it ever has been. But, the buyers are getting very sophisticated now, where they’re doing scanning a lot more scanning of sesamoiditis. I think that they’re learning that that is a good way to identify a horse who’s either going to have a problem or not have a problem.” –Carrie Brogden, Machmer Hall

The post KEESEP in the Books, but Numbers Slide as Expected appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“The September Sale can be measured as a success given that in these uncertain times the market proved there is still tremendous interest and money for quality racehorses at all levels,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Everyone who participated should be applauded for their unprecedented efforts to make this market a reality.”

The September Sale is a bellwether for the global Thoroughbred industry and a significant economic driver for Central Kentucky breeders.

“Keeneland is fortunate, in the midst of a pandemic, to be able to not only hold the September Sale but do so on its originally scheduled dates,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “I'm so proud of the Keeneland team who, immediately after the Spring Meet was canceled and the lockdown in Kentucky was announced in mid-March, began collaborating with state and local health officials, breeders, consignors, buyers and others in the Thoroughbred industry, to plan for the September Sale even as the landscape changed almost daily. The success of this sale is a testament to the cooperation among everyone involved and the resiliency of our industry.”

Among the health and safety protocols implemented for the September Sale by Keeneland were the requirements that people who accessed the grounds during the sale be credentialed through the Virtual Badge digital ID and that all Keeneland employees, consignors and their staffs, veterinarians and their staffs, farriers, van representatives and media show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Everyone entering the Keeneland grounds underwent a daily health screening with a temperature check and questions. Face coverings and social distancing of at least six feet were required, and the Sales Pavilion, including the Sales Arena and Back Holding Ring, had reduced capacity. Nearly all food service moved from the Sales Pavilion to concessions and the Phoenix Room in the track Grandstand.

“Full credit for this year's September Sale goes to everyone – breeders, consignors, owners, buyers, agents, trainers and countless other people – for their cooperation in following the health and safety protocols and adapting to the new forms of buying that allowed us to offer this important market in this unusual time,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. “It certainly wasn't your normal September Sale, and we know it wasn't easy. We sincerely thank all who participated and made the best of the challenging circumstances. We look forward to 2021 and the return of the hustle and bustle.”

For the sale, held Sept. 13-25, Keeneland sold 2,346 yearlings for $238,454,300, for an average of $101,643 and a median of $37,000.

In 2019, the 13-session September Sale was one of the strongest in recent years, with 2,850 horses selling for $359,789,700, for an average of $126,242 and a median of $45,500. Last year Book 1 spanned three days versus two days this year.

“Last year was an incredible market,” Russell said. “Trying to replicate those results, even in a normal year, would have been difficult. No doubt, COVID-19 and the travel restrictions due to the pandemic had a strong impact on some aspects of the market. Certain major players did not take part. However, a deep, diverse buying bench still participated at all levels. It was very rewarding that the second week of the sale was stronger than anticipated.”

Keeneland demonstrated its flexibility by providing a variety of options to allow buyers to participate remotely, headlined by the successful launch of online bidding. Online bidding attracted a total of 1,857 bids, which resulted in the sale of 126 horses for a total of $12,165,900 to buyers in 17 U.S. states, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada and Spain. The highest price recorded online was the $825,000 paid by Yuji Hasegawa for a colt by Tapit out of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria.

“Online bidding worked as smoothly and was as popular among buyers as we had hoped,” Arvin said. “When you try something new, you kind of hold your breath to see how it goes. We are very pleased with our partner, Xcira, and the online auction technology system, as well as the level of participation by buyers.”

Keeneland expanded its phone bidding service to accommodate remote buyers, and to enable greater social distancing, added a third on-site bidding location in the Show Barn, the area just outside the Sales Pavilion where horses begin their journey to the sales ring. The area proved very popular with buyers.

In an effort to deliver more information directly to buyers, Keeneland further enhanced its digital catalog to feature walking videos of yearlings and comments from consignors. Keeneland also offered a list of bloodstock agents who planned to attend the sale and could work with buyers participating remotely.

As in recent years, demand for quality individuals continued to drive the market, and buyers remained highly selective in their quest for Thoroughbred racing prospects.

Proving the diversity of Keeneland's buying bench was the fact that 14 different entities, dominated by domestic buyers, purchased the 15 seven-figure yearlings.

“Breeders are to be commended for bringing a very good crop of yearlings to market,” Keeneland Director of Sales Development Mark Maronde said. “The value found here encouraged strong trade through the entire sale. Horse people are optimists in the best of times, and here they are – while there are no fans at many race tracks and with all the uncertainty in every facet of life – doing more than $238 million worth of commerce. That's huge.”

Tom Hinkle of consignor Hinkle Farms agreed. Hinkle sold all 22 yearlings in its consignment for a total of $3,124,000. They included a $750,000 Arrogate colt purchased on the internet by Hasegawa and a $750,000 Gun Runner filly bought by Robbie Medina, agent.

“Because of COVID, there was a lot of uncertainty – not just in the Thoroughbred market but in everything,” Hinkle said. “After COVID really took hold in April, we adjusted our projections on what we thought our yearlings would bring. Fortunately, we had a great sale. We've not only exceeded our revised projections but we've exceeded our original projections.

“We just sell our own horses, so we look at (sales results) as an aggregate,” he added. “As an aggregate, we've been very pleased.”

The September Sale topper sold on the second day of the two-day Book 1 when the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway and Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $2 million for the Tapit colt. Out of Grade 1 winner Tara's Tango, he was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.

Tapit also sired the $1.25 million filly who led the opening session. Claiborne Farm, agent, purchased the daughter of Grade 1 Alabama winner Embellish the Lace, by Super Saver. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, she is from the family of Grade 1 winners Afleet Express and Materiality.

Later sessions showed signs of strength in the market as competitive bidding for premium individuals continued.

“Bidding has been challenging – we have all landed on the same horses on numerous occasions,” said Clay Scherer, who during the fourth session signed the ticket for Flurry Racing Stables to acquire a Speightster half-sister to their September Sale graduate and recent Kentucky Oaks winner, Shedaresthedevil, for $350,000.

Boosting the ninth session was Marsha Naify's purchase of a $500,000 colt by Karakontie consigned by Gainesway, agent. That day, Naify purchased three yearlings through phone bidding.

Overall, the sale's leading buyer was Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. On behalf of the partnership, Lanni purchased 28 colts for $11.25 million. At $775,000, the group's most expensive purchases were sons of Into Mischief and Quality Road.

Other leading buyers who spent more than $3 million were West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable; Mike Ryan, agent; Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.; B S W/Crow; Mayberry Farm; Courtlandt Farm; OXO Equine; Maverick Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. In addition, MyRacehorse.com, co-owner of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner and September Sale graduate Authentic, purchased 14 yearlings either singly or in partnership with Spendthrift Farm for total expenditures of $3,355,000.

Buyers had an appetite for yearlings by Authentic's sire, Into Mischief, who ranked as the sale's leading sire with 57 horses sold for $25,401,000, for an average of $445,632. Among them were five seven-figure horses, including the $1.9 million top-priced filly during the second session, the $1 million colt who topped the fourth session and the $625,000 colt who led the fifth session.

Larry Best's OXO Equine purchased the $1.9 million filly. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, she is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Taylor S, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Liam's Map and Grade 3 winner and sire Not This Time.

Medaglia d'Oro was the leading sire by average with 18 yearlings averaging $599,722. He sired four seven-figure horses – all fillies: $1.6 million (sold to Shadwell Estate Company Ltd), $1.4 million (Robbie Medina, agent), $1.1 million (Whisper Hill Farm) and $1.1 million (What Time Is It Racing – Oracle Bloodstock, agent). Horse of the Year Gun Runner was the leading sire among stallions represented by their first yearlings at the auction with total sales of $8.12 million for 32 horses.

Other top-priced horses represented such successful sires as American Pharoah, Curlin, Kitten's Joy, Quality Road, Speightstown, Uncle Mo and War Front. Leading later sessions were progeny of established sire Ghostzapper and such emerging young stallions as Cupid, Karakontie, Mastery, Not This Time, Nyquist, Practical Joke and Unified.

For the sixth year in a row and the 22nd time since 1988, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the September Sale's leading consignor. Taylor Made sold 252 horses for $29,783,400, including the $1.9 million Into Mischief filly.

Meanwhile, using seven consignors, Stonestreet Bred & Raised sold 30 yearlings for $9,911,000. Joining the $2 million sale topper among the Stonestreet horses was the $1 million colt by Into Mischief who was offered by Warrendale Sales and purchased by Peter Leidel to lead the fourth session.

During Friday's final session, 167 yearlings sold for $1,143,000, for an average of $6,844 and a median of $4,500. Stonehaven Steadings consigned the $45,000 high seller, a colt by Cupid purchased by Scott Gelner, agent.

Racing returns to Keeneland on Friday, Oct. 2, opening day of the 17-day Fall Meet and the start of the prestigious Fall Stars Weekend. A total of 10 stakes, including five Grade 1 races, will be run over three days. Nine stakes during Fall Stars Weekend are Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races, which award each winner an automatic and free entry into the World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7.

Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale begins two days later and will run through Nov. 18.

The post Keeneland September Yearling Sale Concludes With Positive Trade, Resilient Market appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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