Eric Hoyeau

Pierre Hoyeau, a notable figure in the racing community of Western France, has died at the age of 91. He was the father of former Arqana president and current senior advisor Eric Hoyeau, and the grandfather of bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau. Hoyeau got his start in racing by creating a grain and feed trading company in Anjou, which supplied many trainers in the West of France. From there, his interest in racing developed, leading to Hoyeau creating his own stable, which focused primarily on jumping horses, but he worked with...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) held its 2024 AGM in Chantilly, France over the weekend of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, which celebrated the 175th running of the prestigious race and was hosted by the Fédération des Eleveurs du Galop (French TBA). Over the weekend of the AGM, the French TBA, together with France Galop, hosted a series of visits for delegates which included the training gallops and the training yards of Gavin Hernon and Henri-François Devin, as well as Château de Chantilly and the Musée...

The four-day Arqana Vente d'Elevage concluded on Tuesday, with four fillies and mares making €1 million or more, and 668 horses (77%) marked as sold for a gross of €47,135,000. Overall, the average was down 8% to €70,561, however, the median rose to €20,000, an increase of 16% off of 2022's mark. The sale was topped by Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at €4.025 million from leading buyer Portofino Bloodstock. Taking just Tuesday's trade into account, 109 lots sold (79%) for a gross of...

In support of the humanitarian aid deployed to those affected by the earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria Feb. 6t, Coolmore has donated a stallion cover to Classic winner Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). The cover will be offered at Arqana's February Mixed sale, without fees, Tuesday, Feb. 14 as lot 70. All proceeds will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The covering to the Derby hero, can be used in 2023 or carried over to 2024 if there is no live foal from the 2023 service....

For the second straight year, the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale will be staged at Goffs UK's Doncaster sales complex in light of coronavirus-inflicted travel restrictions. The sale was originally slated for Deauville on May 13 and 14, and will now take place at Doncaster on May 28, with the breeze show on May 26. The decision to move the sale was prompted by the fact that 80% of the 2-year-olds catalogued are based in Ireland, and thus the personnel accompanying them to France would have had to undertake a strict two-week...

ARQANA announced the addition of Pierre Le Courtois to the position of Manager of Information Systems. The 26-year-old native of France graduated with a General Engineering degree before specialising in Network and Information Systems at EIGSI in La Rochelle. More recently, he was in charge of web development and project management at a digital services company for a little over a year. Additionally, Le Courtois secured an amateur rider's license in 2012 and served stints with trainers Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, Pierre Fertillet and Willie Mullins. "Pierre's training and experience will enable...

Agathe Capdepon has been promoted to Arqana Communication Director, the sales company announced on Tuesday. Capdepon began in the company's communication department in 2016. She holds degrees in literature and communication and is a qualified riding instructor. In addition, Capdepon, who previously worked at a news agency, is taking over from Alix Choppin, who will continue to collaborate with Arqana on a free-lance basis, organizing events to promote racehorse ownership in business circles. Megan Martins, in charge of digital communication, and Pauline Ritter, responsible for press relations and advertising, also...

Following the news that French President Emmanuel Macron is tightening COVID-19 restrictions, Arqana announced they are considering several options for their remaining 2020 sales. A decision on new sale dates and formats will be made early next week. "We spoke with the local authorities this morning and received confirmation that the upcoming sales will have to follow a different organization from the one in place at the recent October Yearling Sale," said Arqana CEO Eric Hoyeau. "Several alternative options remain on the table and we are working hard to review...

DEAUVILLE, France—A numerically enhanced Arqana October Sale drew to a close in Deauville on Friday with encouraging figures in a year which cannot shake off the spectre of Covid-19. As 9pm curfews are about to be reinstated across the regions of France where the virus is spreading most quickly, the curtain has come down just in time on the major yearling sales of the season. What the situation will be come the breeding stock sales is anyone's guess but, for now, Arqana has managed to stage its October Sale in...

DONCASTER, UK—There aren't many bloodstock sales companies that can boast of an Irish auctioneer who can speak French with a Yorkshire accent but if you happen to walk in to the Goffs UK sales ring at Doncaster on Wednesday while Nick Nugent is on the rostrum that is what you're likely to find. In the spirit of COVID-encouraged entente cordiale, the breeze-up sector finds itself in a situation few would have imagined at the start of this year, with British sales house Goffs UK and French-based Arqana holding their respective...

The last week of June remains the most likely date for the combined Goffs UK/Arqana combined breeze-up sale. After the Irish Government's lockdown roadmap was released on Friday and with the UK's position to become clearer on Thursday, all European breeze-up sales will be discussed with Tattersalls. The three sales companies are working to harmonise the breeze-up sales calendar and are preparing for more than one outcome as provisional plans pertaining to the resumption of racing in the UK, Ireland are under discussion, with France to begin on May 11....

Arqana president Eric Hoyeau has stated that the company is leaving "no stone unturned" in finding a solution to staging its Breeze-up Sale, which should have taken place but on May 8 and 9 but now cannot following a lockdown extension by the French government. With France remaining under strict constraints until May 11, the Arqana bloodstock team is now in liaison with vendors with regard to rescheduling the sale. The options include holding the breeze-up on its reserve dates of June 2 to 3 or 3 to 4, or...