Keeneland officials have announced that the April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be put on hiatus for 2015.
First held in 1993, the April Sale has featured a small, select catalog of top-quality 2-year-olds sold during a single-session auction which is conducted on a dark day early in the Spring Meet. It is one of four annual sales held by Keeneland, the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house. The 2015 April Sale had been scheduled for Monday, April 6.
“The ‘boutique sale’ model has become increasingly difficult to construct,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “The April Sale lacks a critical mass of horses, a key factor which makes our September Yearling, November Breeding Stock and January Horses of All Ages sales so successful. We will suspend the April Sale this year and continue to review its viability in years to come.”
Though brief in history, the April Sale has a proven record of producing top performers, counting among its graduates six North American classic winners: Belmont (G1) winner Palace Malice; Preakness (G1) winner and champion Lookin At Lucky; Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness winner and champion Big Brown; Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner and champion Thunder Gulch; and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winners Keeper Hill and Gal in a Ruckus.
Other notable April Sale alumni include champion Beautiful Pleasure; 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Lady Eli; and such Grade 1 stakes winners as Golden Ticket, Haynesfield, Jersey Town, Love and Pride and Panty Raid.
“This was a difficult decision given the consistently positive racing results of our April Sale graduates,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Walt Robertson said. “We decided not to delay so that our consignors will have ample time to make alternative plans for their horses.”
A total of 125 two-year-olds were cataloged for last year’s April Sale, with 38 selling for gross receipts of $8,769,000 compared to $11,640,000 for 59 in 2013. The 2013 average of $230,763 was 17 percent higher than $197,288 the previous year, while the median of $200,000 increased 33 percent from $150,000.
(story provided by Keeneland)
