Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, known as The World’s Yearling Sale and internationally recognized as the premier source of racing excellence, opens Monday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. ET with the prestigious two-day Book 1 and runs 12 sessions through Saturday, Sept. 20. 

“The September Sale represents the heart of Keeneland’s mission: connecting the best horses in the world with a global marketplace that drives our sport forward,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Not only is it the largest and most important Thoroughbred auction, but it is a gathering place for our industry, a source of pride for our community and a defining moment that helps shape the future of racing. We are honored by the trust of buyers and sellers who return each year to make this marketplace thrive.”

The 82^nd edition of the September Sale has cataloged 4,686 yearlings – 2,398 colts and 2,288 fillies – representing 189 stallions with more than 1,400 horses by such first-crop sires as 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline along with Corniche, Epicenter, Golden Pal, Jack Christopher, Jackie’s Warrior, Life Is Good, Mandaloun and others. The catalog also features relatives of champions and leading racehorses of 2025. Click here for the online catalog.

“We are proud to welcome horsemen and women from around the world to Lexington for the September Sales,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The depth and quality of the catalog, along with the global participation it attracts, underscores Keeneland’s role as a trusted marketplace where future champions begin their journey.”

The September Sale is the largest Thoroughbred auction in the world and an anchor of the global racing calendar. Last year’s renewal was the highest-grossing Thoroughbred auction in history, with more than $428 million in sales for 2,894 yearlings. Thirty-six yearlings sold for $1 million or more, the highest number since 2006, while the sale achieved record average ($147,926) and median ($70,000) prices.

“When the September Sale does well, the sport does well,” Arvin said. “Funds generated here are reinvested into racing through purses, marketplace development, safety initiatives and fan development. The ripple effect of this sale reaches far beyond Keeneland and benefits all in the global Thoroughbred community.”

Graduates at top of sport

Through Sept. 3, graduates of the September Sale have won 275 stakes around the world this year, scoring notable victories in North America, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Domestically, sale graduates won 16 stakes over the Labor Day weekend. At Saratoga, stakes-winning sale graduates were Antiquarian (Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1), Ted Noffey (Spendthrift Hopeful-G1), Praying (Prioress-G3), Donegal Momentum (Bernard Baruch-L) and Stars and Strides (Saranac-L).

September Sale graduates during the weekend also came at Del Mar with Formidable Man (Del Mar Mile-G2) and champion Citizen Bull (Shared Belief-L) and at Kentucky Downs thanks to Ag Bullet (Never Say Die Ladies Turf-G2), Bear River (Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint-G2), Johnny’s Red Storm (Kentucky Downs Juvenile-L) and Lagynos (Keeneland Sales Tapit-L).

Significant catalog updates

The September Sale catalog has been further strengthened by recent racing results, including siblings to new graded stakes winners and promising 2-year-old winners. A number of yearlings are siblings to Grade 1 winners and 2-year-old winners at Saratoga and Del Mar since the catalog was published and include:

• Siblings to these Grade 1 winners since the catalog: Seismic Beauty (Hip 5), Hope Road (Hip 34), She Feels Pretty (Hip 156), Kilwin (Hip 518), World Beater (Hip 1062), Scottish Lassie (Hip 1442), Fort Washington (Hip 1843) and Velocity (Hip 1852).
• Siblings to these 2-year-old maiden special weight and stakes winners at Del Mar, Saratoga and elsewhere, including Ted Noffey (Hip 150), Desert Gate (Hip 553), Bourbon and Ginger (Hip 958), Emphasis (Hip 1050), Intricate Spirit (Hip 1073), Golden Tornado (Hip 1267), Teddy’s Rocket (Hip 1416), South Bay (Hip 1531), It’s Our Time (Hip 1722), Balboa (Hip 1773), Big Dom (Hip 1967), Carmel Coast(Hip 2302), She’s Country (Hip 3291) and Johnny’s Red Storm (Hip 4113).

Sale schedule and structure

For the fifth consecutive year, Books 1 and 2 during the first four days of the September Sale have cataloged more than 1,000 yearlings judged to be the auction’s finest individuals based on conformation, pedigree and sire power. 

Friday, Sept. 12 is a “dark day” when no sale will be held and will feature the annual Party in the Paddock, a free celebration from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The September Sale will resume Saturday, Sept. 13 with a two-day Book 3, two-day Book 4 and a four-day Book 5 divided into Book 5A (Sept. 17-18) and Book 5B (Sept. 19-20). The two-part Book 5 reflects the increased depth of quality throughout the catalog and signifies the buyer engagement through the final day.

Week 1

Book 1 – Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 8-9 (1 p.m.) – Monday’s catalog has 183 horses. Tuesday’s catalog has 184 horses.

Book 2 – Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 10-11 (11 a.m.) – 392 and 382 yearlings. 

Dark Day – Friday, Sept. 12. 

Week 2

Book 3 – Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 13-14 (10 a.m.) – 424 and 423 yearlings.

Book 4 – Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 15-16 (10 a.m.) – 420 and 419 yearlings.

Book 5A – Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 17-18 (10 a.m.) – 425 and 426 yearlings.

Book 5B – Friday-Saturday, Sept. 19-20 (10 a.m.) – 507 yearlings each day.

The entire September Sale will be livestreamed at Keeneland.com and aired on the FanDuel TV+ OTT app. FanDuel TV will have live hits throughout Book 1.

Know before you go

This September marks the final phase of construction in preparation for the debut of Keeneland’s first phase of construction around the Paddock area. While some work remains in progress, the footprint of construction during the September Sale will be smaller than last year. Visitors to the sale should note the following:

• Valet parking will be available through the first parking row labeled OPS BLD in the South Plaza area between the Sales Pavilion and the new Operations Building.
• General parking will be available in Rows 1-15 and 19-31. No vehicular traffic will be permitted in front of the Sales Pavilion.
• The East Entrance to the race track will be closed. Guests should access the trackside area via the South or North Entrances.
• Accessible (ADA) parking is available via valet parking with golf cart shuttle service. 
• Golf cart parking is designated at the North Gate and Clubhouse lots.
• Keeneland golf cart shuttles will circulate the grounds and may be requested by calling 859 288-4356.
• Horse trailers should enter at Gate 1 (Versailles Rd. and Man o’ War Blvd.) and park in designated aisles in the lower lot.

Also, please drop off paperwork to a member of the Sales Administration team at the Repository in the Sales Pavilion.

Special events invite the community

Keeneland has several events designed to educate and excite the Lexington community about the importance of the September Sale:

• The Sept. 4 edition of Central Bank Thursday Night Live at the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion in Tandy Park in downtown Lexington is sponsored by Keeneland Sales. The free event from 5-8 p.m. features live music along with art, food and beverages. 
• Behind-the-Scenes Sale Tours, part of the official Keeneland Tours program, will enable people to learn more about sales operations. These guided, in-depth tours are available on selected days of the auction from 9-10:30 a.m. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Keeneland sales are free and open to the public.