Charles Keller III sat alone in the upper reaches of the sales ring in Harrisburg. He watched as the mares descended from those his father bred more than 50 years ago went under the auctioneer’s gavel.

As he watched, the “Yankeeland Farm” sign was coming down at the barn where their mares were housed. After the final stallion share was sold, Keller was tightlipped and sobered.

“It’s tough,” was his only comment as he walked away from the sales arena.

USTA Photo

World champion Windylane Hanover was sold in foal to Andover Hall for $600,000 to John Duer, acting as agent for the breeding division of Odds On Racing.

Dan Bittle, nephew of Charlie Keller, was similarly melancholy.

“Bittersweet,” was his only comment, and added, “That part is rewarding” when it was noted that the mares were going to some of the sport’s finest breeders.

World champion Windylane Hanover was sold in foal to Andover Hall for $600,000 to John Duer, acting as agent for the breeding division of Odds On Racing. The price was the highest so far at the 2006 sale and tied for fourth highest ever for a broodmare sold at public auction.

Dodger Blues, bred this year to Credit Winner, sold for $375,000 to Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz. Cool Yankee, bred to Rocknroll Hanover went for $170,000 to Michael Parisi while the fittingly named Always A Yankee, bred to Artsplace, sold for $150,000 to Diamond Creek Farm to round out the top broodmare sellers for Yankeeland.

The Baltimore Sun sent a reporter and photographer to document the end of one of Maryland’s largest horse farms, which was started by the late Charles Keller Jr., a star outfielder with the New York Yankees in the 1940s, after he retired from baseball.