This week I made some field trips to Keeneland. This is my field trip follow-UP. I was present for the 57th annual January Horses of All Ages Sale. The event ran from Monday thru Thursday (the 12th thru the 15th). 1,610 Thoroughbreds went up for auction. Historically, Keeneland is the world leader auction house for Thoroughbred sales. The January Sale is one of three sales held there annually.
The weather was cold, the horses were beautiful. Hot chocolate and burgoo , as well as layers of clothing, kept me warm as I walked among the stables and paddock. I encountered some fine horses. Surprisingly, I did not spy any celebrities. However, the people were pretty amazing. It was a diverse crowd of local, national and international buyers and sellers. I had the privilege of speaking with some experienced and knowledgeable Thoroughbred experts.
Each day featured about 400 horses. Of all these horses, 948 sold. The price ranged from eight horses going at $1,000 each to one selling at 2.2 million dollars. The gross amount generated was $35,305,500. The average price was $37,242. The big seller was Up, an Irish filly. She wore hip #537. Her first foal was sold next for $800,000, the highest price of this session for a yearling. Up is a Grade 2 winner. Her sire is Galileo, also Irish. Up is pregnant by War Front. Her yearling was the only foal of War Front at the auction. War Front lives at Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY. He was ranked the #44 sire by earnings last year. Galileo was ranked #1. Both sires have multiple stakes winnings. Up and her foal were sold by Four Star Sales. Up went to a married couple in California with Ran Jan Racing. The yearling went to LNJ Foxwoods.
Keep a look out for this bloodline. It will be interesting to watch the foals race. Will big money mean big winners?
I am looking forward to my next sale field trip on February 8th and 9th at Fasig-Tipton. Hope to see you there.
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