Correas, Valle to Represent Keeneland in South America

Keeneland announced May 21 the appointment of Ignacio "Nacho" Correas IV and Ezequiel Valle as South American sales representatives, further strengthening the company's global outreach and engagement with buyers and sellers across the region. The announcement follows the recent addition of Reed Ringler to Keeneland's sales team, reinforcing a continued focus on recruitment and client service. Correas, a fourth-generation horseman, retired from training in 2025 following a successful career and brings decades of experience and relationships across both North and South America. Valle, based in Argentina, adds extensive relationships across breeding, racing, and farm management, currently serving as a leader at Haras Firmamento, one of South America's premier breeding operations. "Keeneland has long taken a global approach to recruitment, building relationships across various regions to deliver the most diverse buying bench in the industry," said Tony Lacy, Keeneland's vice president of sales. "South America remains an important part of that effort, and Ignacio and Ezequiel bring the experience, perspective, and connections to strengthen how we engage with our clients across the region." Correas, who called Keeneland home as his training base for more than a decade, is widely respected across the industry for his training career and horsemanship. "It's an honor to be part of the Keeneland team," Correas said. "I look forward to supporting our current and future South American clients." Valle represents a third generation in the Thoroughbred industry, with more than 20 years of experience spanning stallion operations, breeding, and racing. In addition to his leadership role at Haras Firmamento, he oversees a broad racing operation with horses in training across multiple countries and serves on the board of the International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation, representing Argentina and South America on a global stage. "I'm proud to represent Keeneland and look forward to building even stronger connections with clients across South America," Valle said. "Having attended Keeneland sales as a buyer, I understand what our clients value and how we can best support their participation. Working alongside Ignacio is a tremendous advantage, given his deep knowledge of Keeneland and the industry." Correas and Valle join Keeneland's international representatives Ed Prosser in Europe, Kate Hunter in Japan, and Barry Bowditch in Australia.