Following the latest COVID-19 lockdowns in Ireland and the UK, several changes to the winter sales at Kildare Paddocks and Doncaster were confirmed by Goffs on Tuesday. The Goffs February Sale was divided into a virtual sale for breeding stock, older horses, and juveniles on Feb. 9-10 and a physical sale for weanlings on Mar. 2 at Kildare Paddocks. The Goffs UK Doncaster January Sale had also been separated into two sections as well, with National Hunt mares and horses-in-training to go under the hammer online on Jan. 26. The National Hunt weanlings and point-to-pointers will be conducted live at the Doncaster Sales Complex on Feb. 17.
A summary of the changes are as follows:
Goffs February Sale – Breeding Stock, Older Horses and Two-Year-Olds:
- Circa 250 lots offered in a live online auction on their intended dates of Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 Feb.
- Sale starts at 12 noon each day
- A separate catalogue for this sale will be available online from Friday 8 Jan. The printed catalogue will be distributed next week
- Format follows the successful Online Autumn Yearling and HIT sales held in November with no horses, vendors or purchasers on site
Goffs February Sale – Weanlings:
- Circa 240 lots offered at a physical sale at Kildare Paddocks on Tuesday 2 Mar.
- Horses available for inspection and presented for sale as normal
- Sale starts at 10 a.m.
- A separate catalogue for this sale will be available online from Tuesday 12 Jan. The printed catalogue will follow
- Strict protocols similar to those in December will be in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all attendees, and compliance with the latest Government directives at the time
Doncaster January Sale – NH Mares and Horses-In-Training etc.:
- Offered in a live online auction on Tuesday 26 Jan. as scheduled
- No horses , vendors or purchasers on site
- A separate catalogue for this sale will be available online from Tuesday 12 Jan. The printed catalogue will be distributed the following da
Doncaster January Sale – NH Weanlings and Point-To-Pointers:
- Offered at a physical sale at the Doncaster Sales Complex on Wednesday 17 Feb.
- Horses available for inspection and presented for sale as normal
- A separate catalogue for this sale will be available and online in advance
- Strict protocols similar to those in December will be in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees, and compliance with the latest Government directives at the time
Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Under the current lockdown measures in both Ireland and the UK, we do not feel it is prudent to hold a physical sale in this early part of the year and we have therefore selected alternative options that we believe will maximise the potential for vendors and buyers in all sectors.
“Where we feel it may be possible to hold an onsite sale and the category allows, these sales have been rescheduled to later dates and we will communicate any additional updates pending further Government advice. For breeding stock, particularly in-foal mares, the customer friendly Goffs Online platform, which proved a game changer throughout 2020, will facilitate their sales and international participation on the original dates. Feedback from the Autumn was very positive and clearly demonstrated that the concept works very well for these categories.
“Like everyone, we hope and pray that 2021 sees an end to Covid as vaccinations are rolled out. However, until such a time, we wish to reassure vendors and buyers that Goffs will continue to review our sales dates on an ongoing basis in consultation with our clients, industry bodies and other sales companies. As such we have again liaised with closely with Tattersalls and Arqana to ensure that any changes to our sales are in congruence with their plans. That consultation and planning should allow us to best serve the industry and carry out every sale this year as successfully as circumstances allow.”
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