Saturday, March 06 2010
Keeneland Announces New Format for 2010 September Yearling Sale
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 5, 2010) – Keeneland Association officials today announced a new format for its 2010 September Yearling Sale, which will begin Sunday, September 12.
“The new format reflects the changing Thoroughbred industry,” said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson. “We’ve been working in collaboration with our customers, particularly our consignors, over the last few years to develop a format that fits the current dynamics and needs of our buyers and sellers.”
Wednesday, March 03 2010
Keeneland’s First-Ever Annual Pass on Sale March 2
LEXINGTON, KY (March 2, 2010) – Beginning March 2, Keeneland racing fans can, for the first time ever, purchase an annual pass—good for general admission each day of both the 2010 spring and fall race meets—for just $50. The pass also entitles each owner to receive special offers throughout the year, including special discounts at keenelandshop.com and free admission to the Equestrian Room during simulcasting.
Keeneland’s spring meet runs April 2-23, while the fall meet will be held Oct. 8-30 for 32 days of live racing. General admission to the races is $5.
Friday, February 26 2010
Champion She Be Wild, Grade 1 Winner Blind Luck Top Central Bank Ashland Nominees
LEXINGTON, KY (Feb. 26, 2010) – Reigning champion juvenile filly She Be Wild, and Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) winner Blind Luck headline a talented group of 109 three-year-old fillies nominated to Keeneland’s $400,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), slated for Saturday, April 3.
Nancy Mazzoni’s She Be Wild and Blind Luck, owned by Mark DeDomenico, John Carver and Jerry Hollendorfer, were co-highweighted fillies at 123 pounds on the 2009 Experimental Free Handicap.
Champion Lookin At Lucky, Fountain of Youth Winner Eskendereya Highlight Nominations
LEXINGTON, KY (Feb. 26, 2010) – Champion Lookin At Lucky and Eskendereya, an 8½-length winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2), are among the 162 three-year-olds nominated to Keeneland’s $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1), to be run Saturday, April 10.
The 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass is one of the country’s richest Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races. Nineteen horses, including most recently Street Sense in 2007, have used the Blue Grass as a steppingstone to victory in the Derby.
This year, NBC will broadcast the Toyota Blue Grass as part of a new series in partnership with Churchill Downs called The Road to the Kentucky Derby. The show will air live from 5-6 p.m. ET.
Friday, February 12 2010
Keeneland Catalogs 181 Horses For 2010 April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale
LEXINGTON, KY (Feb. 11, 2010) – Keeneland has cataloged 181 horses for its upcoming April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, to be held on Monday, April 5. The one-day session will begin at 4 p.m. ET.
Prospective buyers can see the juveniles perform under tack during a one-day Preview Show, scheduled for Thursday, April 1, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 27 2010
Comprehensive Article Reaches One Conclusion: Engineered Surfaces Improving Horse Safety
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2010) – A comprehensive article published last week in one of racing’s leading publications unequivocally concludes that engineered surfaces have reduced fatal injuries, saving the lives of hundreds of horses.
The article in the Winter 2010 magazine edition of the Thoroughbred Daily News, also contends that in many cases tracks with engineered surfaces have larger field sizes and have better weathered the decline in betting and handle being driven by a challenging national economy.
Wednesday, January 20 2010
Keeneland Grads, Connections Shine During Eclipse Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 19, 2010) – Keeneland Association sales graduates excelled during last night’s 39th annual Eclipse Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Five horses – either sold at Keeneland sales or who won major stakes races during one of its meets -- won six awards during the ceremony, honoring the best in the Thoroughbred industry at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. In addition, Julien Leparoux, who won his fourth Keeneland riding title in April, was named best jockey.
Friday, January 15 2010
Keeneland Concludes January Horses of All Ages Sale
LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 15, 2010) – Quality individuals continued to attract strong interest from discriminating buyers at Keeneland’s recently concluded January Horses of All Ages Sale, highlighted by the sale of multiple graded stakes winner Miss Isella for $1.085 million.
Cumulatively, the five-day sale, held January 11-15, totaled $23,895,100, down 27.20 percent from last year’s six-day gross of $32,824,000. Average price of $24,333 dipped 0.81 percent from $24,532 posted in 2009. The median of $8,000 was down 15.79 percent from last year’s $9,500. A total of 982 horses were sold compared to 1,338 a year ago.
Keeneland 2010 Spring Stakes Worth $3.65 Million
LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 15, 2010) – Keeneland has scheduled 16 stakes worth $3.65 million for its 2010 Spring race meet, highlighted by its signature $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and $400,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), showcasing three-year-old colts and fillies, respectively.
The spring meet will be held April 2-23, featuring racing Wednesdays though Sundays. No racing will be held Easter Sunday, April 4.
Thursday, January 14 2010
Missvinski Brings $400,000 on Thursday at Keeneland
LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 14, 2010) – French stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Missvinski attracted a final bid of $400,000 to headline Thursday’s session of Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale.
Consigned by Michael C. Byrne, agent, Missvinski is a six-year-old mare by Stravinsky out of Miss U Fran, by Brocco. At two and three, she recorded wins in the Prix Zeddaan and Prix Ronde de Nuit, as well as second-place finishes in the Group 1 Prix d’Astarte and Group 3 Prix de la Grotte. Aisling Duignan, agent, signed the ticket for Missvinski, who sold as a racing or broodmare prospect.
Rachel’s Star Sells for $220,000 to Top Wednesday at Keeneland
LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 13, 2010) – Rachel’s Star, in foal to Elusive Quality, commanded top price of $220,000 on Wednesday at Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale.
Thoroughbred Advisory Group bought the nine-year-old daughter of Seeking the Gold from Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. She is the dam of Meadowlake and Mountain Valley Stakes winner Citizen.
Grade 1 Winner Point Ashley Sold Privately for $1-Million
LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 13, 2010) – Grade 1 stakes winner Point Ashley, withdrawn from Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale, has been sold privately for $1-million to Katsumi Yoshida.
Four Star Sales consigned Point Ashley, in foal to Ghostzapper, for Mike Moreno’s Southern Equine Stable. She was viewed by potential buyers throughout two days of showing at Keeneland but withdrawn by Moreno, who felt she was worth more to him than what he expected her to bring in the auction ring.
