Keeneland Sales & Racing Update, Aug. 28

To our customers:

The Keeneland grounds are bustling with activity as we prepare for a safe and steady September Yearling Sale in just a few short weeks. I hope you have had the opportunity to review the additional details on the sale that we shared last Friday, and encourage you to reach out to any member of our team if you have questions or need any clarification.

Below are a few additional items and important reminders relating to the September Sale in this week’s communication.

We are grateful for your cooperation and support as we implement protocols to keep our sales grounds safe and our market strong. We are a resilient industry, and we will see our way through these unprecedented times together, and come out stronger and more agile on the other side. We wish you all the best in your final preparations for the Keeneland September Sale, and look forward to seeing many of you very soon.

Best,

Shannon B. Arvin

Credential Reminder

Thank you to those of you who have already applied for credentials through our trusted technology partner, Virtual Badge. A reminder that all sales participants on site at Keeneland must request a credential in advance of the September Yearling Sale. Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton have partnered with Virtual Badge to serve the credential needs for both sales. This common credential will be accessible from your mobile device in the Virtual Badge app. We also wanted to address a few questions we have received on the credentialing process:

Why does Virtual Badge include location tracking?
For the safety and protection of our customers, location tracking is a required feature within the Virtual Badge App and is necessary for contact tracing purposes only. The tracking feature activates when you come onto the sales grounds and turns off when you leave the premises. The tracking feature will not be active outside the Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton grounds.

Do I need to apply for a credential for both Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton?
No. An approved credential issued by Keeneland or Fasig-Tipton is valid at both sales, therefore you will only need to complete this process once.

I am a seller/owner of a yearling, which credential should I apply for?
As a rule of thumb, if you have reason to enter the barns, shedrows or stalls, you should apply for the Consignor/Consignor Staff credential and complete a COVID-19 test. A reminder that those with a Buyer/Owner/Agent credential may not enter the barn for the September Sale.

To request a credential, please follow these simple steps:

1. Download the Virtual Badge app on your smartphone in the App Store or Google Play. Create an account, log in and select “Keeneland” under Organization.

2. Complete the credential application. Select your role at the sale and complete the questionnaire.

• Buyers, owners and their agents who will not be in the barns should complete the form and submit your request. No other action is needed.
• All other sales participants should indicate whether you will test for COVID-19 at Keeneland/Fasig-Tipton or off site.
  • Testing at Keeneland/Fasig-Tipton: Your results will be linked to your Virtual Badge account once a negative test is received.
  • Testing Off Site: Upload a copy of your test result into the app when prompted. For off site testing, you will not be able to submit your credential request unless you have a copy of your negative COVID-19 test result.

3. Credential approved. You will receive notification within the app once your test results are received. Your approved credential will appear in the Virtual Badge app on your phone, which will be scanned at entry to the sales grounds each day.

Learn More

Review September Sale Protocols in Spanish

Keeneland has also made information about our September Sale protocols available in Spanish for sales participants to review. Please click the links below for direct access to these pages, or visit keeneland.com/september and select the ESPAÑOL button in the top right corner to review translated materials.

Review September Sale Protocols in Spanish

Review Credential Process in Spanish

Upcoming COVID-19 Testing

Please mark your calendars for upcoming COVID-19 testing windows available on-site at Keeneland. No appointment is necessary and you may arrive anytime during these testing windows. A reminder that those requiring a COVID-19 test must show proof of a negative test within 10 days of your first entry to the grounds.

Please note that credential requests for Consignor/Consignor staff cannot be approved in Virtual Badge until a negative COVID-19 test has been provided through Keeneland/Fasig-Tipton or uploaded through the Virtual Badge app. If you are testing off-site you must be tested and have proof of your negative test before requesting a credential in order to complete the application process in Virtual Badge.

When arriving for a COVID-19 test, please enter through Gate 1 and make your way to the Entertainment Center for testing.

August 31 – September 2 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
September 11 – 12 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Online Catalog Reminders

Please make note of a few additions to the online catalog this year, which are available to buyers and sellers in advance of the September Yearling Sale.

Walking Videos: Buyers may virtually inspect yearlings through Keeneland’s online catalog.

Consignor Comments: Consignors have the option to submit a single-page PDF of comments or key notes for each yearling. These are available to review under the “Info” column within the online index.

Consignors should continue to submit these materials over the coming weeks by emailing them to Ryan Spaight ([email protected]).

For those of you who would like to pick up a printed catalog, we have made these available at the Keeneland Welcome Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.