A total of 3,070 horses sold for more than $531 million, a world-record gross for a Thoroughbred auction, during the Keeneland September yearling sale which closed Saturday.
Over 12 sessions, 56 yearlings sold for at least $1 million, besting the previous record of 40 set in 2005. A $3.3 million Gun Runner colt bought by M V Magnier, Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm and Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds was the sale topper.
Starting September 8 and ending Saturday, the auction produced $510,544,900 in through-the-ring sales to finish 24% higher than last year’s $411,749,500. Gross sales increased to $531,520,400 when an additional $20,975,500 in reported post sales were added. The combined figure also topped the previous record gross of nearly $428 million from 2024.
“What an incredible September sale,” Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We definitely had reasons to be optimistic going in, but the strength of the results day after day exceeded even our highest expectations. From start to finish the energy on the grounds never waned. Buyers from around the world were here in force, the sales pavilion was vibrant and the sense of community and excitement was palpable. You could feel that energy.”
Buyers represented 33 countries with participation from as far away as Asia, the Middle East and Europe to underscore the size and scope of Keeneland’s deep buying bench.
