Rising Tide

It’s a great expression, isn’t it– Aa rising tide lifts all boats–and that pretty much describes Keeneland’s super-energized 2013 edition of its September Yearling Sale, which ended last Saturday after a two-week run; 12 days of selling, four in Week 1 (Book 1), and eight in Week 2 (Books 2-5). When the numbers were all tallied, a total of 2,744 yearlings had been sold (70% of those catalogued, same as last year), which was 9% more than last year, for $280,491,300, and an average of $102,220–the first time since 2007 the sale’s average had topped $100,000. The gross was up over $60-million (28%) from last year, and the average rose 17%, from $87,354.