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Ladbrokes, Coral Quit Betting Ring

Ladbrokes and Coral will no longer have a presence in racecourse betting rings after their parent company GVC announced it will cease operation of all of its 106 racecourse betting pitches, which have been sold to John Hooper.

“This decision has not been taken lightly, and we are very sad to be calling time on Ladbrokes and Coral’s longstanding presence in the racecourse betting ring,” said GVC’s Trading Director Tom Ritzema. “GVC remains totally committed to horse racing, with a significant race sponsorship portfolio under the Ladbrokes and Coral brands, and we are the biggest single provider of betting revenues to the sport.”

“A number of factors combined to lead us to conclude that a presence in the racecourse betting ring is no longer a strategic imperative for our two UK brands,” Ritzema continued. “The volume of business taken through the racecourse pitches is minuscule, compared to the volumes generated in our off-course retail and digital businesses, and we no longer use the operation to hedge into the racecourse betting ring. As the racecourse operation is loss-making and no longer has a strategic purpose, we have regrettably reached the decision to sell our pitches and leave the ring. The current situation with Covid-19, and racing behind closed doors, expedited the decision but was not one of the factors behind it.

“Standing in the betting ring will always be a huge part of both Ladbrokes and Coral heritage and history, and we are immensely proud of that. However, the betting landscape has changed immeasurably in recent years, and we need to change with it. We would like to wish John Hooper the best of fortune with our pitches, going forward.”

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Online Option for Goffs Autumn Yearlings

Following the news that the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale would be rescheduled for Jan. 12-13 as a result of the tightening COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland, there is now an online option to sell these yearlings, Goffs announced on Tuesday. The online auction is slated for Nov. 17-18, as the January dates were not preferred by many vendors. Any Goffs lots that are sold or bought in “under the hammer” in this way will still be qualified for auction races in Ireland or the UK, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed. Any vendors interested in this new online option must confirm to bloodstock@goffs.ie by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 regarding their participation and to submit any specific questions. The catalogue for the sale will be finalised next week, and Goffs will confirm whether the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale would be a timed online sale or a live auction. Each lot will retain its original lot number. For more information, please visit www.goffs.com.

Please note the following must be provided to Goffs:

A copy of the passport of each lot to show the lot’s information, markings and vaccinations
Conformation video footage of each lot
Veterinary Certificate (dated not earlier than 14 days prior to the Sale) for each lot
Any Condition/ Vice/ Wind Operation not in the catalogue which could otherwise result in the cancellation of the Sale by the Purchaser under the Goffs Condition of Sale

“The ever-evolving 2020 landscape prompted us to review the options for our Autumn Yearling vendors again after a number of vendors voiced concerns about the rescheduled January 2021 dates,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Online bloodstock sales are still in their infancy worldwide, but we have been hugely encouraged by the online participation at all Goffs sales this year, starting with the breeze up and right throughout the yearling sales, so we believe this is the best available option at the current time in Ireland.

“While we cannot guarantee how buyers will respond to an online inspection platform for yearlings, we will market this online offering with renewed determination and hope that this low cost platform will be seen as an attempt by Goffs to offer a viable marketplace when so many factors are conspiring against us.”

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Alcohol Free Half-Sister Anchors Tattersalls December Yearlings

The catalogue for the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, featuring a Starspangledbanner (Aus) half-sister to Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), is now online. One of 173 yearlings set to sell at Park Paddocks on Nov. 23, the half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine and French listed winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 119) will be offered by Knockatrina House. Overall, there are full- or half-siblings to 37 group and listed winners in the catalogue, among them five Group 1/Classic winners. There are 13 yearling that qualify for the £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme, an additional 12 yearlings are eligible for the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction S., as well as fillies eligible for the Great British Bonus Scheme and yearlings eligible for French Owners’ Premiums.

Lot 11 is a Gleneagles (Ire) half-brother to Angara (GB) (Alzao), winner of the GI Beverly D. S. Stateside from Annshoon Stud. The chestnut is also a half-brother to GSW Actrice (Ire) (Danehill), and SW & GSP Arlesienne (Ire) (Alzao). The last-named is already the dam of three black-type winners and the SP dam of G1 Prix du Moulin second Akatea (Ire) (Shamardal).

Genesis Green Stud offers lot 16, a Pivotal (GB) colt out of a half-sister to G1 French 2000 Guineas hero Landseer (GB) (Danehill), who is also a half to SW and G1 Prince of Wales’s S. third Ikhtyar (Ire) (Unfuwain); and the dam of group winner and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. bridesmaid I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). South African Grade 1 winner Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus})’s Caravaggio half-sister sells as lot 27 from the draft of Monksland Stables.

A son of Bungle Inthejungle (Ire) hails from the draft of Rathasker Stud as lot 64. The bay counts GI Garden City S. heroine Alexander Tango (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) as his half-sister. Another lot to keep an eye on is the Sea the Stars (Ire) colt (lot 160) who is a half-brother to Group 2 winner and G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) out of 2013 G1 Oaks victress Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Consigned by Ashbrittle Stud, he is also a half-brother to the stakes-placed duo of Skilful (GB) (Selkirk) and King Power (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

In 2019, 131 yearlings were marked as sold for an aggregate of 4,149,500gns. The average was 31,676gns and the median was 25,000gns.

“The Tattersalls December Yearling Sale is a consistent source of top-class performers with a well established reputation for combining quality and value for money,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “The catalogue for the 2020 renewal has consignments from many of Britain and Ireland’s most successful nurseries and as well as plenty of outstanding pedigrees, buyers will find a large number of yearlings eligible for valuable £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonuses and the ever–popular £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction S., as well as the well-received Great British Bonuses.”

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David Hawes Remembered In Newmarket

Friends and former colleagues of David Hawes, who died on Friday, 16 October, will have the chance to pay their respects from outside Tattersalls on Wednesday as his funeral cortege passes by the sales house.

A longstanding and popular member of the Newmarket racing community and the sales circuit, Hawes, who was 59, was diagnosed with cancer in March.

Born in Yorkshire, he started his career with Peter Cundell in Berkshire after graduating from the Goodwood racing school. Following a stint as a jump jockey, he joined his brother Kevin in Newmarket, where he worked for Sir Michael Stoute for 13 years, during which time he looked after the G2 Cherry Hinton S. winner and 1000 Guineas third Dazzle (GB). He was also employed by Sir Henry Cecil, Michael Jarvis and Ed Dunlop.

From working in racing yards, Hawes spent some time working for Juddmonte Farms during the foaling season and as a night watchman. He was also a regular face in the sales drafts for Grove Stud and Kilminfoyle House Stud.

Along with his great passion for horses, he also enjoyed greyhound racing and was a successful owner, notably with the 2017 English Oaks winner, Wuheida.

“Dave was a really nice man who I knew for years on the sales circuit,” said Brendan Holland of Grove Stud. “We both share a passion for greyhounds passed down from our fathers and his proudest moment was when Wuheida, a bitch himself and Robin Sharp owned, won the English Oaks. They bought her from my brother Paul, who bred her. Dave was a good man, may he rest in peace.”

Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud also paid tribute to his colleague. He said, “David worked the sales for me for 16 years and he was a kind and loyal man who will be sadly missed by all on the sales grounds. My condolences to all his family.”

Hawes’s daughter Amy recalled her father’s success with the first racehorse he bought. She said, “He was at the Donny sales and someone was trying to sell a filly who had been unsold in the ring. Dad bought her for £500 and kept her a secret from mum and me. He stabled her at Exeter Stables, broke her in, and rode her out every day. Her name was My Nan Nell and she won second time out at Wolverhampton. That was a very special evening and Dad was over the moon.”

My Nan Nell (Ire) was subsequently sold on to Team Valor and won another two races in America.

The funeral service for Hawes will take place on Wednesday and his friends are asked to gather near the entrance to Tattersalls on The Avenue, Newmarket at 2.30pm to say their farewells as the cortege passes.

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