Keeneland September will offer more horses than any other yearling sale in North America. A little less than a year ago, The Jockey Club reported a North American foal crop of 18,143 for 2023. Keeneland announced that it has cataloged 4,407 of those, or about 24 percent, to the September sale.
However, the yearling sale season is by no means finished in September. The nation’s other two major auction houses – Fasig-Tipton and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. – over the next two months will offer an additional few thousand yearlings between them, many targeted to regional marketplaces across the country. Here is a look at the remaining major-market yearling calendar, outside of Keeneland September. All updates on recent graduates are as of Aug. 11.
Fasig-Tipton California fall yearling sale
Sept. 24, Pomona, Calif.
2023 renewal: According to sale company statistics, 185 horses were sold for $5,751,500 at the state’s leading yearling auction, compared to 205 sold for $6,257,100 in 2022. The average was $31,089, up 2 percent from the prior year, while the median fell 11 percent, to $15,000.
Last year’s topper: A California-bred colt by Vronsky was purchased for $250,000 by West Point Thoroughbreds. Now named Miles Finch, he is breezing for John Sadler in California.
Recent graduates: California-bred Ceiling Crusher was a $115,000 buyback at this sale in 2022 but went on to win the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes last year to ably represent the state program. Stakes winners Finneus, Rock N Rye, Thirsty Always, and Tom’s Regret have all changed hands at this sale since 2020.
Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Timonium, Md.
2023 renewal: Fasig-Tipton reported that 289 yearlings, many bred or certified in the regional programs of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and other states, sold for gross receipts of $7,078,000. At the prior year’s sale, 386 yearlings changed hands over two days for a gross of $10,266,400. The cumulative average price was $24,491, dipping 8 percent. The median fell 20 percent, to $12,000.
Last year’s topper: A Maryland-bred son of Nyquist was purchased for $205,000 by the partnership of Thorostock LLC and Seth Morris Thoroughbreds. He is still unnamed and has not raced or breezed.
Recent graduates: Grade 1 winner Leave No Trace and graded stakes winners Cordmaker and Field Pass sold at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. October yearling sale
Oct. 8-9, Ocala, Fla.
2023 renewal: OBS reported that 386 horses sold over its two-day sale for gross receipts of $7,692,100. One year prior, 394 yearlings sold in two sessions for $10,560,900. True session-to-session and year-to-year comparisons came with a caveat: In 2022, OBS conducted the October yearling sale with both a designated selected session and an open session, and at the time, reported the figures for each as a separate sale. Both sessions of the 2023 renewal were designated as open sessions. The average for the 2023 sale was $19,928, compared to a cumulative $26,804 in 2022. The median was $12,500, compared to $17,000.
Last year’s topper: A $250,000 Mitole colt, purchased by Quarter Pole Enterprises, was later pinhooked for $725,000 to Speedway Stables. Now named Southern Gentleman, the Florida-bred is in training in California.
Recent graduates: Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee, a Grade 1-winning multimillionaire; Group 1-winning multimillionaire X Y Jet; and Royal Ascot Group 2 winner Crimson Advocate have emerged from this sale.
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale
Oct. 21-24, Lexington, Ky.
2023 renewal: The final stop on the North American calendar has expanded to four sessions in recent years to meet market demand, fueled by this sale’s premium results on the racetrack. Last year, 1,064 hopefuls sold for gross receipts of $51,120,000. The 2022 sale set records across the board in the three major economic categories, as 1,100 horses changed hands for a gross of $55,426,500. The 2023 cumulative average price was $48,045, dipping 5 percent, and the median was $24,000, dropping 4 percent.
Last year’s topper: Agent Jessie Longoria signed the ticket on behalf of Zane Kiehne and Grier Brunson for a $725,000 colt by Triple Crown winner Justify from the family of Horse of the Year Azeri. Named San Saba, the colt posted his first breeze in early August in California.
Recent graduates: Two-time Eclipse Award champion Goodnight Olive and this year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna are among a consistent parade of standouts boosting the profile of this sale.