Keeneland releases catalog for September Yearling Sale, promising a blockbuster event

The world's premier yearling auction will offer 4,635 yearlings across 12 sessions from September 14 through 26;following a historic 2025 that generated over $531,700,000 in total sales, expectations are soaring once again

LEXINGTON, Kentucky—If one auction serves as the definitive barometer of the global Thoroughbred market, it is Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. The countdown to the 2026 edition is officially underway following the release of a massive, star-studded catalog: 4,635 yearlings will go under the hammer across 12 sessions from Monday, September 14, through Saturday, September 26.

This marks the 83rd running of a sale coming off a historic 2025 campaign that set all-time records as the highest-grossing Thoroughbred auction in history, generating over $531,700,000 from 3,078 horses sold.

Last year's renewal produced staggering numbers across the board: 56 yearlings reached or eclipsed the million-dollar threshold, while the record-setting average rose to $172,755 and the median reached $80,000.

"The 2025 September Sale set an unprecedented historical benchmark," highlighted Shannon Arvin, KeenelandPresident and CEO, pointing to the broad-based global demand and market strength across every tier of the catalog.

For 2026, sheer depth remains a major hallmark. The catalog features offspring by 189 stallions, including 722 yearlings by the top 10 general leading sires in the United States. Heavyweight names such as Into Mischief(Harlan's Holiday), Gun Runner (Candy Ride), Curlin (Smart Strike), Constitution (Tapit), Not This Time(Giant's Causeway), Justify (Scat Daddy), Flightline (Tapit), Nyquist (Uncle Mo), Quality Road (Elusive Quality), Tapit (Pulpit), Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), Candy Ride (Ride the Rails), and Life Is Good (Into Mischief), among many others, ensure elite commercial power.

Major buyer focus will also center on freshman sires. A total of 24 first-crop sires are represented, accounting for an impressive 1,072 cataloged offerings.

Leading the charge among first-crop stallions is Horse of the Year and fan favorite Cody’s Wish (Curlin), who boasts 84 yearlings in the catalog, including 51 slated to walk the ring during Week 1.

The sale will also showcase the initial yearlings by Arcangelo (Arrogate), Elite Power (Curlin), Forte (Violence), Mage (Good Magic), Annapolis (War Front), Arabian Lion (Justify), Country Grammer (Tonalist), Gunite (Gun Runner), Proxy (Tapit), Taiba (Gun Runner), Up to the Mark (Not This Time), and Zandon (Upstart), forming an exceptionally promising young sire line.

"It is another remarkably strong group of new stallions," explained Cormac Breathnach, Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations. "You have precocious sprinters, turf specialists, and classic dirt horses. There will be no shortage of standout athletes, which will certainly generate immense buzz on the sales grounds."

As customary, Books 1 and 2 will anchor Week 1 attention, with over 1,100 yearlings cataloged from Monday through Thursday. Friday, September 18, will serve as an dark day before bidding resumes Saturday, September 19, and runs continuously through September 26.

Book 1, which houses many of the catalog's premier prospects, takes place September 14 and 15 beginning at 1 p.m., with 181 yearlings scheduled for the opening session and 184 for the second. Book 2 follows on Wednesday and Thursday with 377 and 379 offerings, respectively. From there, Books 3 and 4 take center stage, concluding with Book 5 over the final four sessions, structured this year as 5A and 5B.

"After six years of maintaining this structured format, buyers and sellers fully understand the rhythm of the sale and can manage their inspection schedules effectively," added Breathnach.

The global footprint of the September Sale continues to be reflected on racetracks worldwide. Through August 10, sale graduates had recorded 280 stakes victories globally in 2026, scoring top-level wins across the United States, England, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

The list of G1 winning alumni this season is formidable, including Magnitude (Not This Time), Deterministic(Liam's Map), Explora (Blame), Classic Q (Classic Empire), Commandment (Into Mischief), Renegade (Into Mischief), Always a Runner (Gun Runner), Counting Stars (Honor A), Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), Formidable Man (City of Light), Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah), and Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map).

"This year's September Sale delivers extraordinary quality and depth from the very first session straight through to the final day," summarized Tony Lacy, Keeneland Vice President of Sales.

Coming off a historic 2025 that set a towering standard, Keeneland once again takes center stage in the international racing world this September. With 4,635 yearlings, 12 sessions, and top bloodstock buyers converging on Lexingtonfrom every corner of the globe, last year's records are fresh—but as history proves in Kentucky, no bar stays unbroken for long.