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Keeneland is a thoroughbred horse racing and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky.

The racing side of Keeneland, Keeneland Race Course, has conducted live race meets in April and October since 1936. It added a grass course in 1985. The spring meet contains several preps for the Kentucky Derby (held the first Saturday in May), the most notable of which is the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. The fall meet features several Breeders' Cup preps.

Keeneland takes pride in maintaining racing traditions; it was the last track in North America to broadcast race calls over its public-address system, not doing so until the 1980s. Most of the racing scenes of the 2003 movie Seabiscuit were shot at Keeneland because its appearance has changed relatively little in the last several decades.

In the thoroughbred racing world, Keeneland is equally famous for its other side—its sales operation. It holds five annual horse auctions that attract buyers worldwide:

• January - Horses of All Ages

This sale, as its name implies, features horses of all ages. Breeding "seasons"—the rights to breed one mare to a specified stallion in a given year—are also sold at this auction.

• April - Two-Year-Olds in Training

This sale was added in 1993 in response to demand by owners wishing to buy horses in training.

• July - Selected Yearling

This sale, conducted since 19431943 is the common year starting on Friday. Events January January 4 End of term for Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Earl Warren. January 11 The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China. January 1, is the most prestigious thoroughbred sale in the world. Numerous champions, including 11 Kentucky Derby winners, have been sold here. The yearlings sold here are selected by pedigree, and must pass a physical conformation test before being allowed into the sales ring.

• SeptemberSeptember is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 30 days. The name comes from the Latin septem for " seven" September was originally the seventh month of the year, before January and February were inserted. In Greek civilization, S - Yearling

This sale, the world's largest sale of yearlings, has been conducted at various times in the fall since 1944Events World War II January January 4 The Battle of Monte Cassino begins. January 5 Murder of Danish playwright Kaj Munck January 17 British forces, in Italy, cross the Garigliano River. January 20 The Royal Air Force drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin;, and was permanently moved to September in 1960Events January-February January 1 Independence of Cameroon January 9 Aswan High Dam construction begins in Egypt January 11 Chad declares its independence. January 14 Ralph Chubb, the gay poet and printer, dies at Fair Oak Cottage in Hampshire. January 23. Yearlings sold here need not meet any pedigree or conformation tests unless they are to be sold in "Selected Sessions." In recent years, the September sale has produced a Kentucky Derby winner, an Epsom DerbyThe Derby Stakes known colloquially as The Derby and internationally as the Epsom Derby, is considered one the most prestigious flat thoroughbred horse races in the world. The race takes place each year in June at Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, England. winner, and a U.S. Horse of the Year.

• NovemberNovember is also the letter N in the NATO phonetic alphabet. November is the eleventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 30 days. From the Latin novem for " nine". It was originally the ninth month of the year in the early Roman calendar, w - Breeding Stock

This sale features all horses capable of breeding, except for yearlings. Stallion "shares"—ownership interests in specific stallions—and seasons are also sold at this auction. Over the years, this has become the world's largest sale of thoroughbreds.