The estate of the late Edward P. (Ned) Evans, who bred more than 100 stakes
winners, including 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam and multiple Grade 1 stakes
winner Quality Road, will disperse its Thoroughbred yearlings, weanlings,
broodmares and racing stock at Keeneland’s September Yearling and November
Breeding Stock Sales.
Lane’s End Farm will act as agent for the complete dispersal, with the
exception of Quality Road, which will continue to stand at Lane’s End. The
approximately 250 horses will be sold without reserve. Proceeds from the sale
will go to the Edward P. Evans Charitable Foundation.
“Ned was an extraordinary sportsman who had such a wonderful passion for this
game,” Keeneland President & CEO Nick Nicholson said. “He truly loved his
horses, and took immense pride in the success of his breeding and racing
program, personally planning the matings and racing his homebreds. Ned was a
great friend to Keeneland, and a tremendous champion of our industry.”
Evans operated Spring Hill Farm in Virginia for more than 40 years, and
established himself among the nation’s top owners and breeders. The Thoroughbred
Owners and Breeders Association named Evans the Virginia Breeder of the Year
nine times, most recently in 2009. That year it also named him the National
Breeder of the Year. Evans retired his best fillies to build a world-class
broodmare band, including such Grade 1 winners as Summer Colony and Raging
Fever, and multiple Grade 2 winner Gold Mover.
“The Evans dispersal will offer breeding stock from families not previously
available on the commercial market,” Vice President of Sales Walt Robertson
said. “This will be a unique opportunity for Keeneland and horsemen worldwide.”
In 2010, Evans ranked seventh among North American owners with stable
earnings of $3.6 million, spurred by the success of homebred Quality Road,
winner of the Woodward (G1), Donn (G1) and Metropolitan (G1) and earnings of
more than $2.2 million. Evans purchased Kobla, dam of Quality Road, at
Keeneland’s 1999 November Breeding Stock Sale.
Evans counted among his other homebred stakes winners Gygistar, Tap Dance,
Cat’s at Home, Minstrella and With Ability. He also campaigned Ruffian
Invitational (G1) winner Malibu Prayer, Prioress S. (G1) winner Cat Moves and
Jim Dandy S. (G2) winner A Little Warm.