BOTH Goffs and Tattersalls have moved quickly to amend plans for their January and February public auctions in response to the increased lockdown measures announced by the Irish and British governments.

The Goffs February Sale will be held in two parts with breeding stock, older horses and two-year-olds selling in an online live sale on its traditional dates of Tuesday and Wednesday, February 9th and 10th, and the yearling [born 2020] section rescheduled to Tuesday, March 2nd as a physical sale at Kildare Paddocks.

The Doncaster January Sale, featuring National Hunt mares, yearlings, horses in training and point-to-pointers, will also be divided into two parts, with the National Hunt mares and horses in training offered online on the scheduled date of Tuesday, January 26th, and the National Hunt yearlings and point-to-pointers being delayed to Wednesday, February 17th at the Doncaster Sales complex.

Goffs’ 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.”

Tattersalls Ireland has postponed its February National Hunt Sale by three weeks. The new dates are Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23rd and 24th.

New Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented: “As has been the case since the outbreak of this virus, we’re having to respond as best as we can to rapidly changing scenarios, at all times balancing social responsibility and prevailing Government restrictions with the best interest of all Tattersalls Ireland clients.

“Rescheduling the February National Hunt Sale to the end of February will provide clarity to our vendors and will maximise the potential for all purchasers to attend the sales complex.

“We are confident that the measures we have in place will allow us to host successful sales once circumstances allow. Due to the later date in February we will continue to take entries until Friday, January 22nd.”

REVISED SALES DATES