Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Keeneland to Auction Share in Horse of the Year Curlin

Keeneland, the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, has been chosen to market the sealed bid auction of the 20% minority ownership interest in reigning Horse of the Year Curlin.

On September 25, Boone County Circuit Court Judge Roger Crittenden signed an order allowing Matthew L. Garretson (Garretson), the court-appointed Receiver for Midnight Cry Stable (owned by Shirley Cunningham Jr. and William Gallion), to offer its 20% minority interest in Curlin for sale through a sealed-bid process. Ownership of the interest is held in the name of Midnight Cry’s parent company, Tandy, LLC. Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables owns an 80% interest in the colt.

Curlin became the richest North American-based Thoroughbred with his win in last month’s $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, the colt’s seventh consecutive Grade 1 victory. The four-year-old son of Smart Strike has amassed total earnings of $10,246,800 in only two seasons of racing, surpassing two-time Horse of the Year Cigar’s record of $9,999,815, which stood for 12 years.

Unraced at two, Curlin has finished in the money in 15 career starts at three and four. His 11 wins include victories in the $6 million Dubai World Cup, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, $1 million Preakness (G1), $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap, $500,000 Woodward Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) (twice). The colt is scheduled to run in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 25 at Santa Anita.

“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a significant interest in an extraordinary racehorse and an exciting stallion prospect,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “Curlin is arguably one of the greatest horses of the modern era.”

Deadline for submitting sealed bids is November 5, 2008, at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T. Sealed bids should be forwarded to Garretson, as Receiver, c/o Sylvius von Saucken, Esq. via certified mail or fax at the following address:

Matthew L. Garretson, Esq., Receiver
c/o Sylvius H.. von Saucken, Esq.
The Garretson Law Firm, LLC
7775 Cooper Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Phone: (513) 794-0400
Fax: (513) 936-5186

All bids must be submitted in writing. They may be forwarded to Garretson by mail or fax using the form of “Offer to Purchase” which will be provided to all qualified bidders along with the “Conditions of Sale” established with respect to the potential sale. Bid packages may be obtained by contacting von Saucken at the address listed above.

www.keeneland.com