BOTH Goffs and Tattersalls have issued statements clarifying the position on their upcoming sales.

Racing in Ireland and Britain is continuing under restrictions due to the spread of Covid-19 but there are concerns as to how a ‘public’ auction could be staged if, as expected, there are limits placed on the numbers who can attend.

Tattersalls Ascot is due to stage a one-day sale next Thursday and a breeze-up sale at the end of the month. Goffs UK is due to stage the high-profile Aintree horses-in-training sale after racing at Aintree on Thursday, April 2nd.

A statement issued by Tattersalls on Monday read: “The Tattersalls Group is monitoring and responding to the directives outlined by the relevant authorities in Britain and Ireland, with the primary aim being to balance the interests of our clients and their livelihoods with the immediate health concerns surrounding the global spread of Covid-19.

“At present the office in Newmarket where Tattersalls, Tattersalls Ascot and Tattersalls Cheltenham staff are based, is operating normally and members of staff can be contacted on the usual office number. At Tattersalls Ireland, the majority of staff will continue with business as usual while working from home until March 29th in accordance with Government guidelines. Individual members of staff can be contacted via email and mobile phones, details of which can be found on the Tattersalls Ireland website.

"It is our current intention to proceed with sales scheduled to take place in March and April at our Ascot, Newmarket and Cheltenham locations to proceed with as little disruption as possible and in line with Government guidelines. We are conscious that the situation is changing and evolving rapidly, but we are also acutely aware of our ongoing responsibilities to carry out our primary role on behalf of our clients to the very best of our ability.

“With that in mind the Tattersalls Group sales schedule for March and April will continue as outlined below:

Tattersalls Ascot March Sale, Thursday 19th March: Sale to proceed with possible restrictions on attendee numbers depending on Government guidelines.

Tattersalls Ascot Breeze Up Sale, Tuesday 31st March - Wednesday 1st April: As above, sale to proceed with possible restrictions on attendee numbers.

Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, Monday 13th - Wednesday 15th April: As above, sale to proceed with possible restrictions on attendee numbers.

Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale, Friday 24th April: as above, sale to proceed with possible restrictions on attendee numbers.

Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training Sale, Thursday 30th April - Friday 1st May: As above, to proceed with possible restrictions on attendee numbers.

“We intend for yearling inspections in Britain and Ireland to commence as usual in April. We must, however, stress that all of the above events remain very much subject to change, and will at all times reflect Government directives in Britain, Ireland and further afield, as well as commercial realities, the requirements of our valued clients and the health and safety of all concerned.

"We hope that the above statement provides clarity in the short term. Further updates and announcements will be communicated as required and in response to material changes in this ever - evolving situation. All statements will be communicated by email, through social media and posted on our websites. In the meantime all of us throughout the Tattersalls Group will continue to do our utmost on behalf of our clients to minimise the impact of these extraordinary and unsettling circumstances.”

GOFFS PLAN

The Goffs Group statement read: “At Goffs we are following the advice and direction of the authorities in Ireland and the UK with our primary focus being on the health and wellbeing of our staff and clients.

“For that reason please note that Goffs have implemented a Work from Home policy and protocol so that we can continue with business as usual as our teams are equipped to work from home with connectivity to our databases, email etc. However, the physical Goffs offices in Kildare and the UK will be closed until further notice and at least for the remainder of this week, with the situation being monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

“For the time being the Goffs teams can be contacted via email and mobile, details of which are on a link on the homepages of the Goffs and Goffs UK websites.

“As things stand we are planning for our sales to go ahead as scheduled but will, of course, monitor events and take advice and direction from the authorities as the situation evolves. However, whilst we cannot predict the future, we wanted to let you, our valued clients, know how we are addressing the problems presented and how we are planning in the short and medium term:

The Aintree Sale: scheduled for Thursday 2 April

This sale is in the hands of the Randox Health Grand National Meeting. If it goes ahead, in whatever form, the intention and plan is for the sale to proceed.

Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale: 22-23 April

As things stand we plan to go ahead. In any event we will not make any finite decision until Monday 30 March when we will review the situation at which time we will decide whether we need to delay the sale or can proceed as originally scheduled. However, to be clear, the 2020 Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale will be held and the only issue is when.

Punchestown Sale: 30 April

As with Aintree, this sale depends on whether The Punchestown Festival takes place. We will react accordingly and in consultation with the Punchestown Executive.

Doncaster Spring Sale: 18-21 May

Stores: entry forms should be returned to Goffs UK and the catalogue will be published on 15 April. HIT/P2Pers: entries can be made in the usual way via the Goffs UK website. Entries close on 20 April. Should the Aintree and/or Punchestown Sales not be held those entries will be accommodated at Doncaster.

Goffs Land Rover Sale: 9 - 10 June

Entry forms should be returned to Goffs and the catalogue will be online on 1 May

Future Sales:

Further updates will be posted and communicated in due course and depending on what happens. However Goffs are technologically equipped to conduct our business in a variety of ways including utilising our new on-line sales facility that may be deployed in a broader and more comprehensive manner than to date.”

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