coronavirus | Horse Racing Free Tips

Goffs Announces Changes to January/February Sales

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.”

The post Goffs Announces Changes to January/February Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

British Racing To Continue In Lockdown

Racing in the UK will continue behind closed doors, as new national lockdowns begin at midnight on Jan. 5. Cases of coronavirus are rising in both countries and their respective governments have imposed new COVID restrictions. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited the rising death toll in the past seven days and the new coronavirus variant that is widespread in the UK as the primary reasons for a third lockdown, which is expected to last until mid-February. The BHA confirmed that racing will continue without fans and with only essential personnel in attendance shortly after Johnson’s announcement.

“As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” Johnson said in part, in an address to the nation. “I know how tough this is, and I know how frustrated you are and I know you have had more than enough of government guidance about defeating this virus, but now, more than ever, we must pull together.

“The number of deaths is up by 20% over the last week and will sadly rise further. With most of the country already under extreme measures, it’s clear that we need to do more together to bring this new variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out.”

The statement from the BHA read, “Following this evening’s broadcast, we can confirm racing will continue behind closed doors during the upcoming national lockdown. Attendance will be limited to those essential to the staging of fixtures and strict adherence to British racing’s COVID-19 protocols will continue to be required for all who attend.”

Scotland’s lockdown is expected to last through January and carries a new legal requirement forbidding anyone from leaving their home except for essential purposes. Only essential personnel will be allowed at racing fixtures, and no owners are permitted to attend a fixture until further notice.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, “We are now seeing a steeply rising trend of infections. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that I am more concerned about the situation we face now than I have been at any time since March last year. As a government our clear duty right now is to act quickly and decisively to safeguard health, save lives and protect the NHS.

“The advice of our clinical advisers is very clear that the increased transmissibility of the new variant means that the current level 4 measures may not be sufficient to bring the R number back below 1. It is essential that we further limit interaction between different households to stem the spread and bring the situation back under control, while we vaccinate more people. In short, we must return for a period to a situation much closer to the lockdown of last March.”

Scottish Racing, which represents Ayr, Hamilton Park, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth tweeted, “Following today’s announcement that Scotland is to re-enter full Covid restrictions, @ScotGov has confirmed that racing in Scotland can continue behind closed doors. Only individuals essential to staging the fixtures should attend race meetings and are required to continue to follow the strict protocols already in place. Unfortunately, no owners will be permitted to attend a racecourse until further notice.”

The post British Racing To Continue In Lockdown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Valet and Former Jockey Luis Leon Passes Away

A popular jockeys’ room valet and former jockey, Luis Leon passed away peacefully Tuesday evening at age 90, according to his son David. He suffered a heart attack recently and succumbed to the effects of the COVID-19 virus while hospitalized. Leon is survived by his wife Juanita, a daughter Sylvia and four sons, Louis, Jr., David, Mike and Victor. Services are pending.

Born Sept. 7, 1930 in Fresno, California, Leon became a contract rider with Rex Ellsworth in the 1950s and 60s. While working under Hall of Fame trainer Mesh Tenney, Leon was nicknamed “The Cheetah.”

As a valet, his services were in keen demand and he worked for a number of top riders over the years including Eddie Delahoussaye, Patrick Valenzuela, Martin Pedroza, Aaron Gryder, Rafael Meza, David Flores and many others.

Following his retirement from the jockeys’ room, Leon and his wife lived on his ranch southeast of San Diego.

The post Valet and Former Jockey Luis Leon Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Horse Exportation Update From Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine

The Irish Government’s Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has released updated advice for horse movement through Great Britain beginning on New Year’s Day, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Thursday. The new guidelines are intended for those transporting horses and the Trader Notice, which outlines procedures for export certification to Britain from Jan. 1, as well as information on movements to and from France and Northern Ireland, may be accessed here.

The new guidelines are summarized as follows for each equine exporter from Ireland to Great Britain:

Register with DAFM.
Register on TRACES.
Contact DAFM Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) re. export health certificate (EHC)
Arrange examination of equines by Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP).
Submit PVP certificate to RVO.
Arrange for Great British-based importer to submit advance notification to UK Import system.
Include the Unique Notification Number (UNN) issued by this system to the TRACES EHC consignment details
Complete consignment details on TRACES and submit to RVO.
Forward scan of completed, signed and stamped certificate via GB-based agent to GB import system.
Ensure signed EHC accompanies horse to GB.

Finally, those moving horses should also register with Revenue and fulfil customs requirements around each horse movement. More details are available on HRI’s updated Brexit Guidance from Dec. 18- www.hri.ie/Brexit. In addition, the Irish Government is extending the ban on travel from Britain until Jan. 6 and HRI also extends its advice that no Irish-trained horses or jockeys should travel to Britain for competition or vice-versa during this travel ban.

The post Horse Exportation Update From Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post