Doncaster will be the venue for a sale of point-to-pointers on Friday, November 6.
Auctioneers Goffs announced plans last month to stage the event, the first of the autumn, but at that stage said it could take place in Doncaster or at its Kildare headquarters in Ireland. The South Yorkshire site has now been given the green light for an auction that will only be open to point-to-pointers, bumper horses and select form horses.
News of the sale will be welcomed by trainers and owners on both sides of the Irish Sea following the early closure of the 2019/20 point-to-point season and loss of spring sales due to Covid-19, followed by the recent announcement that three sales planned by Tattersalls Cheltenham before Christmas have been cancelled. Tattersalls now plans to stage two sales of pointers in Ireland and a one-off in Newmarket on Thursday, December 3.
Hundreds of young horses across both countries were marooned without the opportunity to race and showcase their ability in the spring, and those who had run were deprived of auctions at which they could be sold. Trainers reported selling horses privately in order to generate turnover, but many more remain under their care.
In addition some young pointers will have run in the weeks leading up to the new Doncaster sale. Ireland’s point-to-point season started last month, while in Britain there is the potential for three meetings to have taken place – in Devon, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire – ahead of the auction.