LEXINGTON, KY (Sept, 15, 2013) – The robust demand for racehorses continued on Monday during the seventh session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With five days remaining, gross sales of $236,874,000 are at their highest point since 2008.
The 292 yearlings sold Monday brought $19,952,000 to push the cumulative total so far to $236,874,000. That figure surpasses the $219,781,500 grossed last year and marks the highest total since 2008, when the gross reached $327,999,100.
Monday’s session gross was up 43.6 percent from 2012. The average price on Monday of $68,329 represented a 52 percent increase over the average of $44,963 from the seventh session in 2012. The median price for the session rose 54 percent from $37,000 to $57,000.
Cumulatively, the gross is up 22 percent, while the average of $168,234 rose 33.5 percent from the $125,998 last year. The median has risen 43.7 percent from $80,000 to $115,000.
Monday marked the start of two days that make up Book 3 of the sale. The session-topping yearling was the $330,000 Stormy Atlantic colt sold to Conquest Stables. Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of the winning Ascot Knight mare Swanky Bubbles.
The day’s second-highest price of $320,000 was paid for a daughter of Afleet Alex consigned by Upson Downs Farm, agent, and purchased by Gainesway. Out of the stakes-winning Exploit mare Rich Find, she is a half-sister to Grade 1-placed Broken Spell and is from the family of Grade 2 winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Eight Belles.
The sale resumes Tuesday and runs through Saturday. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at
www.keeneland.com.