See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified horses listed in the sale.
See the file below for all Virginia-Bred and Virginia-Certified horses listed in the sale.
Fifteen years after the historic dispersal of Edward P. Evans’ Spring Hill Farm, the Virginia operation’s legacy continues to heavily influence the Keeneland September yearling sale. Following Evans’ death in late 2010, the market fiercely bid on his farm’s stock in 2011, resulting in 221 horses selling for over $62.3 million—the highest-grossing North American Thoroughbred dispersal at a public auction in history.
Today, the ripple effects of that monumental sale are still shaping the top tiers of the Thoroughbred industry. The dispersal spread elite bloodlines across the market, paving the way for the massive commercial success of pantheon-level sires like Gun Runner and Quality Road, whose descendants continue to command premium prices at auction. As the article notes, if Evans’ operation had continued and kept its horses as homebreds, the landscape of modern racing and breeding might look entirely different. Instead, the story of the sport over the past 15 years has been largely written by the ongoing impact of this single Virginia farm.
Middleburg-based bloodstock agent Chris Gracie showcases the power of the Virginia-Certified program at Saratoga with Forego Stakes (G1) contenders Book’em Danno and Bring the Smoke, alongside his bloodstock connection to Travers Stakes (G1) hopeful Ocelli.
Apprentice jockey Taylor Kingsley secured her first career stakes victory aboard Quiet Street in the $100,000 Lady Erie Stakes for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Raised in a racing family, Kingsley gained international experience riding flat races in Ireland before transitioning to the U.S. professional circuit. Now based in the Mid-Atlantic, she is currently riding at Colonial Downs in Virginia as she continues to build momentum on her promising career path.
Known as “The World’s Yearling Sale” Keeneland kicks off in the sale’s ring on Monday, September 14th. With 6 books and 12 sessions this sale offers 4,642 of the country’s most diverse yearlings. Please refer to the schedule below when horses go to the ring.
See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified horses listed in the sale.
Virginia-Bred Horses Total in Sales: $2,903,000
Virginia-Certified Horses Total in Sales: $1,668,000
Fasig-Tipton’s yearlings continues at Saratoga Springs, New York in the sales paddocks the third week of August. Hips 301-400 will go to the ring on August 16th starting at 7:00pm. The sale will continue on August 17th at Noon until its completion with hips 401-618.
See the file below for all Virginia Certified horses listed in the sale. There are not any Virginia Bred horses entered in this sale.
Check back at a later date for the ring schedule.
See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-Certified horses listed in the sale.
The grand opening of the yearling sales season will take place in Lexington, Kentucky on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Starting at 10:00am, 238 horses will make their way to the sales ring by the end of the day.
See the file below for all Virginia-bred listed in the sale.
There are currently no Virginia-Certified horses in the sale.
Due to the predicted heat index for Wednesday September 2nd, the Warrenton Horse Show management has been able to accommodate moving the Futurity up to an estimated 10:30 AM start…We request everyone arrive by 10:00 AM to insure a prompt start.
Join us at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September 2nd. Show off your, registered, Virginia-Bred, Virginia-Sired, or Virginia-Certified yearlings! The address to the grounds is 60 E Shirley Ave., Warrenton, VA 20186
Virginia-Certified Applicants
Virginia-Bred/Sired Applicants
Please review the following PDF for important information regarding the event.
Please mail or email all entries, current coggins, and W-9’s to Kiersten Wall. Once received you will be sent a confirmation email. If you do not have confirmation of your entries being received by August 26th please call or email Kiersten Wall at Kiersten.Wall@easterassociates.com, 434.326.9843.
Brian Graves to Judge the Twenty-Fifth Virginia Yearling Futurity
We are honored to welcome Brian Graves, General Manager of the historic Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, as the official judge for our 2026 Yearling Futurity.
One of the most widely respected horsemen in the Thoroughbred industry, Brian’s career is a masterclass in building success from the ground up. He began his journey at Gainesway over two decades ago working as a groom. Driven by a powerful work ethic, a sharp eye for a horse, and an uncompromising commitment to integrity, he steadily rose through the ranks. He served as Yearling Manager and later as the Director of Public Sales, where he transformed Gainesway’s sales division into a perennial powerhouse at major public auctions. In 2019, Brian was named General Manager of the 1,500-acre historic property, where he now oversees the farm’s elite stallion roster—headlined by the legendary three-time North American champion sire Tapit—as well as its extensive breeding, boarding, and racing operations.
While Brian operates at the highest corporate echelons of the international Thoroughbred market today, his foundational roots are deeply embedded in the Virginia horse community. Brian is the son of the late, legendary horseman Bill Graves, a proud Virginia native who grew up show jumping and foxhunting in the state before becoming a dominant force in the Thoroughbred pinhooking and sales industry. Carrying on the legacy of his father’s lifelong connection to the state, Brian brings a deep appreciation for the quality, grit, and tradition of Virginia-bred and raised horses.
With an unmatched eye for conformation and a lifetime spent evaluating elite young thoroughbreds, Brian brings a wealth of expertise to the center ring for this year’s Futurity.