Racing Sales

Keeneland September Yearling Sale Barn Notes

September 10, 2012

• KEENELAND KICKS OFF 69TH ANNUAL SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE TODAY
• CATALOG UPDATES AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR SEPTEMBER SALE YEARLINGS
• VIDEO CONSIGNOR COMMENTS
• SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER SALE GRADUATES
• TURF CATERING STRIVES TO OFFER MENU AS DIVERSE AS ITS CLIENTELE
• 2012 SEPTEMBER SALE QUICK LINKS

KEENELAND KICKS OFF 69TH ANNUAL SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE TODAY

Opening day of Keeneland’s premier September Yearling Sale is met with beautiful fall weather and brisk business in the barn area as potential buyers conduct their final inspections of the yearlings cataloged in Books 1 and 2. 

Today’s select session, which begins at 4 p.m., kicks off the 11-day sale, which runs through Friday, September 21.

A total of 3,604 yearlings by many of the world’s most fashionable sires have been cataloged. This global star power annually attracts the world’s deepest buying bench to Keeneland, with participating horsemen representing nearly every U.S. state and 50 countries. And being the largest Thoroughbred sale, it is the barometer of the health of the Thoroughbred industry

The entire sale will be streamed live at www.keeneland.com.

Racing fans can follow all the September Sale action via Facebook and Twitter @keenelandsales using #keesept. September Sale barn notes, session updates and daily wrap-up releases will be posted on Keeneland’s social media sites as well as its newly remodeled website, www.keeneland.com.

CATALOG UPDATES AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR SEPTEMBER SALE YEARLINGS

Since The Catalog  . . .

Here’s a list of horses with black type, 1st dam updates for Book 2. For a full list of updates, go to http://flex.keeneland.com/updates/updates.html

CONSIGNOR COMMENTS

Click on the following links for short video interviews conducted by Tom Leach with various consignors at Keeneland. Consignors discuss the September Sale, the market generally and their consignment.

John Phillips, Darby Dan Farm

Bret Jones, Airdrie Stud

Arthur B. Hancock III, Stone Farm

John Sikura, Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency

Joe Seitz, Brookdale Farm

Jody Huckabay, Elm Tree Farm

Michael Hernon, Gainesway

Bill Farish, Lane’s End

Duncan Taylor, Taylor Made Sales Agency

Dell Hancock, Claiborne Farm

Pat Costello, Paramount Sales

Case Clay, Three Chimneys Sales

Craig Bandoroff, Denali Stud

Reiley McDonald, Eaton Sales 

SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER SALE GRADUATES

Top three-year-old colts Dullahan and Paynter are among the accomplished alumni of the 2010 September Sale.

Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing paid $250,000 for Dullahan (auction video), a half-brother to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird consigned by Bona Terra Stud, agent for Halecky and Needham. At Keeneland, Dullahan became only the second horse to win the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old and come back the next spring to win the Toyota Blue Grass, joining Round Table (1956-57). In late August, the colt won the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1), shattering the track record for 1¼ miles at Del Mar. Check out Dullahan’s entry in the Owners Journal.

Paynter, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency and bought for $325,000 by Zayat Stable (auction video), romped to a 3¾-length win in the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth in late July. Previously the colt finished second by a neck to Union Rags in the Belmont (G1). See Paynter’s entry in the Owners Journal.

TURF CATERING STRIVES TO OFFER MENU AS DIVERSE AS ITS CLIENTELE

As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland attracts buyers from across the United States and every corner of the world.

Given the hectic pace of the sales, the days often start at sunrise and finish at dark, leaving little time for horsemen to get lunch or dinner.

For that reason, it’s up to the staff of Turf Catering, Keeneland’s longtime food service partner, to make clients feel welcome and well-fed with a menu that appeals to an international contingent of tastes.

Keeneland patrons have several on-site options for dining, doing business, or just to take a break from the sales. In addition to the Limestone Café and Bar, Keeneland offers an upscale buffet lunch in the track’s fourth-floor Phoenix Dining Room during opening week. The Northern Dancer Bar and several outdoor patio bars are also open.

The Limestone Café, located in the sales pavilion, begins serving breakfast items at 7:30 a.m. Patrons can choose from more than 150 menu items throughout the day, ranging from sushi to hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, pizza and plate lunches. A full coffee and dessert bar, including homemade bourbon balls, is available, as well as an expanding selection of vitamin and flavored waters, juices, teas and sodas.

Several new features have been introduced by Turf Catering this September. Beginning at 5 p.m. daily, the Limestone Café will offer a Pub-style menu highlighted by poppers, sliders, nachos and beer cheese. In a nod to their renewed popularity, cupcakes will be offered on the dessert bar, and snack mix will be passed throughout the sales pavilion during the sessions.

“We constantly follow food trends, and make changes every day in an effort to offer patrons a fresh, enjoyable menu,” said Chef Ed Boutilier of Turf Catering.   

Most popular among the patrons is the “action station,” made-to-order specials which change daily and include such items as pasta and stir-fry dishes and taco salads.

The action station specials are an example of Turf Catering’s effort to provide top-quality customer service.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we can make anything to order,” said Boutilier.

That personal touch extends to his staff’s behind-the-scenes efforts. Turf Catering cooks all its meats, makes all its salads, and bakes 80 percent of its desserts in house.