Keeneland expands South American reach with Correas, Valle appointments

Keeneland widened its South American reach on May 21 by naming Ignacio Correas IV and Ezequiel Valle as South American sales representatives, a move that goes beyond staffing and points to a bigger push for international business in Lexington. The additions come after Reed Ringler joined Keeneland’s sales team on May 1 to focus on client services, global recruitment and sales development, signaling a broader effort to deepen the auction house’s connections across borders.

Correas brings more than name recognition. The fourth-generation horseman retired from training in 2025 after a career that connected barns and buyers in both North and South America, and his résumé includes one of the sport’s biggest stages: the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff victory with Blue Prize (ARG). Keeneland had already noted in October 2025 that Correas was expected to head back to Argentina after sending out what was described as his final horse before retirement, a detail that underlines how closely he remains tied to the region Keeneland wants to reach.

Valle adds another layer of local access. Based in Argentina, he has hands-on experience in breeding, racing and farm management through his leadership role at Haras Firmamento, one of South America’s premier operations. That background matters because Keeneland is not simply looking for names with South American roots; it is looking for representatives who can speak to the realities of buying, selling and developing horses in a market that increasingly feeds North American racing and sales.

Tony Lacy, whose own résumé includes serving as North American representative for Arqana from 2008 to 2021, said Keeneland has long pursued a global recruitment strategy and that South America remains a critical part of it. Correas and Valle now join Keeneland’s other international representatives, Ed Prosser in Europe, Kate Hunter in Japan and Barry Bowditch in Australia, creating a network that reaches deep into major bloodstock markets.

The business case is already visible in Keeneland’s numbers. Its 2025 September Yearling Sale sold 3,070 horses for $531.5 million over 12 sessions, the highest gross ever realized at a Thoroughbred auction worldwide. Keeneland said that sale was powered by broad international participation, while its January sale drew buyers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America and Australia. With Correas and Valle now tasked with widening the South American lane, Keeneland is trying to lock in more buying and selling power before rival sales venues do.