Keeneland’s Yearling Sale concluded today with a 14% increase from a $76,511 cumulative average in 2011 to this year’s $87,354.

“This was an extraordinary sale that was driven by the sheer number of people who attended and the high volume of trade they generated,” said Walt Robertson, Keeneland’s Vice President of Sales. “There were a number of new faces as well as longtime clients, and we welcomed many returning buyers. The interest level was unlike anything we’ve experienced in recent memory.”

Gross receipts for the 11-day sale, conducted September 10-21, totaled $219,781,500, for 2,516 horses. The RNA rate decreased by double-digits during six of the sale’s 11 sessions, falling to unprecedented single digits during each of the final three days of the sale.

“It continues to be a highly competitive, highly selective market,” Robertson said. “In many cases, horses far exceeded their reserves, which meant there were several underbidders who then bought other horses to fill their orders. And while there were fewer horses who failed to meet their reserve, there was active trade in the RNA market as those horses were sold privately.”

Keeneland officials noted that buyers were out in force well into the final days of the sale, and there was greater participation during the second week this year compared to 2011.

“The high volume of trade was accomplished despite the fact that three of last year’s top five buyers were not major players at this year’s sale,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland Director of Sales. “While obviously we missed them, the September Sale is so big and so strong that other buyers stepped up and absorbed their absence. The majority of international buyers attend only one American sale each year, and that is the September Yearling Sale.”

‘It’s been a really solid sale because the clearance rate was higher than it’s been in a long time, and there seemed to be good depth in the middle and lower ends,” said Eaton Sales’ Reiley McDonald.

Consignor Beau Lane, who sold 17 yearlings for $1,379,000, concurred. “It’s the first time (since the 2008 financial crisis) that I’ve seen this kind of interest and activity,” he said. “People are really pushing to get what they want. It all goes back to supply and demand..”

Seven yearlings brought $1 million or more compared to six in 2011. A colt by Distorted Humor out of Grade 1 winner Mushka brought $1.65 million as the sale’s highest-priced yearling. The colt was one of 17 yearlings purchased for a total of $8,250,000 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Company Ltd., the sale’s leading buyer.

Demi O’Byrne, on behalf of the Coolmore partnership of John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, paid the sale’s second-highest price of $1.55 million for a colt by Bernardini. Out of the Carson City mare Wilshewed, the colt is a half-brother to Grade 1 stakes winner Stormello and 2012 Del Mar Derby (G2) winner My Best Brother.

A half-sister to Grade 1 winner Bodemeister was the sale’s top-priced filly, selling for $1.3 million to Donato Lanni, as agent for John Sikura and Bruce Lunsford.