Shannon Arvin

Internationally respected bloodstock adviser and consignor Tony Lacy will join Keeneland as the company's vice president of sales. Keeneland has simultaneously announced that Geoffrey Russell, who has served the auction house for 25 years--the last 20 as director of sales/sales operations--is retiring from the company, but will remain as a consultant through 2021. "Tony possesses a well-rounded knowledge of the Thoroughbred industry, bolstered by valuable insight and a unique skill set gained from having worked on the ground in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East," Keeneland President and CEO...

The 15-day Spring meet at Keeneland Race Course concluded Friday, with total all-sources wagering reaching $164,680,229, an improvement of 7.55% versus the 2019 Spring meet, when all-sources handle totaled $153,116,119. The 2020 Spring meet was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Average daily wagering on the Keeneland product was $10,978,682, an increase of 14.72 when compared to $9,569,757 during Spring 2019. A limited number of patrons were allowed on track during the 15-day stand. Attendance totaled 96,243 for a daily average of 6,416. With four winners on Friday's closing-day program,...

Keeneland has unveiled an interactive website, TheWorldsYearlingSale.com, which highlights the successes of its September Yearling Sale through video, photography, testimonials and storytelling. "The Keeneland September sale is a common thread that runs through many of the most pivotal moments in racing history," Keeneland President, CEO and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. "This website is an innovative platform to showcase these connections and create even more excitement leading into September. Each step of the way we celebrate the heart-pounding sales with our sellers and buyers, and cheer on our...

Lane's End Farm's William "Bill" Farish, who serves on the boards of numerous Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky organizations, has been appointed a Keeneland Trustee. Farish succeeds Claiborne Farm co-owner Seth Hancock, who is retiring as a Keeneland Trustee after having served since 2015. "I am thankful for the opportunity to have served as a Keeneland Trustee for the past several years," said Hancock, "and I know that Keeneland is in very capable hands." Hancock will remain on Keeneland's Board of Directors. "On behalf of Keeneland, I want to extend...

Keeneland announced that Central Kentucky horseman and bloodstock adviser Gatewood Bell has been named Vice President of Racing at the Lexington oval and will assume duties later this month. Bell in 2011 founded Cromwell Bloodstock, a full-service bloodstock agency and consulting firm named after a company owned by his grandfather, John A. Bell, and has served as its president for the past decade. Bell, under the Cromwell Bloodstock and Hat Creek Racing banners, purchased several significant runners, including Grade I/Group 1 winners Undrafted, Hootenanny, Mastery and Con Te Partiro. Bell...

Keeneland will host an April Horses of Racing Age Sale at the start of GI Kentucky Derby week on Monday, Apr. 26. The sale will be an integrated event, with live auctioneers at Keeneland, and horses presented for sale both physically at Keeneland as well as at off-site locations at the choice of the sellers and consignors. Internet bidding will also be offered. "Keeneland is excited to have the April Sale to showcase horses in training during the racing season," Keeneland President, CEO and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin...

Members of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Steering Committee voted unanimously to adopt four new medical and operational reforms to further reduce the use of medication in racing, enhance consistency across racing jurisdictions and promote transparency, according to a press release from the organization Monday. The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition is an industry-led effort to advance safety measures in Thoroughbred racing. "These new reforms set the stage for another productive year of advancing meaningful changes to strengthen the culture of safety in thoroughbred racing," said the release. The following recommended reforms have...

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, propelled by a pair of power-packed dispersals and held in the shadow of the ongoing global pandemic, concluded its four-day run Thursday in Lexington. The dispersal of the Estate of the late Paul Pompa, Jr., which, along with the Sam-Son broodmare dispersal dominated much of Tuesday's action, provided the auction with one last round of fireworks late in the day Thursday with a bevy of high-priced racehorse prospects. Leading the way was Carillo (Union Rags) (hip...

The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale begins its four-day run Monday morning, with bidding slated to commence at 10 a.m. The auction, which includes the dispersals of the historic Sam-Son Farm, the late Paul Pompa, Jr., and Spry Family Farm, features a catalogue of 1,608 broodmares and broodmare prospects, newly turned yearlings, horses of racing age and stallions or stallion prospects. Despite swirling uncertainties caused by the global pandemic, the market proved resilient and surprisingly deep when Keeneland staged its September Yearling Sale and November Breeding Stock Sale...

A total of 1,588 horses have been cataloged for the upcoming Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, which will be held in Lexington Jan. 11-14. On offer at the four-day auction will be 808 broodmares and broodmare prospects, 697 short yearlings, 78 horses of racing age and five stallion or stallion prospects. The catalogue features horses from the dispersals of Sam-Son Farm, the late Paul Pompa, Jr., and Spry Family Farm. Sam-Son Farm, a multiple Eclipse Award- and Sovereign Award-winning breed-to-race operation based in Ontario, will offer 21 broodmares...

Despite the upheaval and chaos caused by COVID-19 this year, the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale proceeded during its usual spot on the calendar following the Breeders' Cup, which was held at the Lexington oval this year. Starting on Nov. 9, the auction concluded its 10-day run Wednesday with nine million-dollar mares, topped by Grade I winner Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), who sold to Larry Best's OXO Equine for $1.95 million. "If I had a takeaway from this whole fall, it's a word we usually use this time of the...

Officials at Keeneland have announced that the auction house will stage a December Digital Sale for horses of racing age, broodmares, weanlings, yearlings and others Tuesday, Dec. 15 and will begin accepting entries Nov. 23. The sale will be conducted via the Keeneland Digital Sales Ring platform, which is supported by HorseCo. The platform enables Keeneland to host smaller, select online auctions in addition to its marquee sales in January, April, September and November. The deadline for $300 entries into the December sale is Friday, Dec. 4. Interested parties may...