. (WKYT) – Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale concluded Saturday after generating $536.7 million in through-the-ring gross sales, surpassing its own worldwide record set last year to become the highest-grossing Thoroughbred auction in history.
The 12-session sale, which ran Sept. 14-26, saw 2,856 yearlings sell for a total of $536,737,900, a 5.14% increase over the previous record of $510,517,900 for 2,903 horses in 2025. When combined with $21.57 million in post-sales reported to date, gross sales reached $558,313,400.
A record 70 yearlings sold for $1 million or more, eclipsing the previous mark of 56 established in 2025. An Into Mischief colt led all purchases at $3.7 million, bought by M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm from consignor Glennwood Farm.
The cumulative average price hit a record for the sixth consecutive year, climbing 6.87% to $187,933 from $175,859 in 2025. The median price reached a record for the third straight year, rising 6.25% to $85,000 from $80,000.
“It’s incredible to think that we set a worldwide record for a Thoroughbred auction just one year ago, and now we’ve surpassed it,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “That speaks to the extraordinary quality of the horses, the strength of the global buying bench and, most importantly, the people who make the September Sale what it is.”
The partnership of St. Elias, West Point, Lane’s End Racing and Belladonna led all buyers, spending $16.2 million on 20 yearlings.
Taylor Made Sales Agency finished as the leading consignor for the 27th time, establishing an all-time record gross of $68.6 million for 338 horses sold, including post-sales.
Three Chimneys stallion Gun Runner topped all sires by gross and average for the second time, with 57 yearlings bringing $43,672,000, an average of $766,176, including 15 seven-figure horses.
Keeneland opens its 17-day fall race meet Oct. 2, highlighted by Fall Stars Weekend, and will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the fourth time on Oct. 30-31.