Officials at Goffs have announced their decision to revert to the old Orby
Sale and stop the Million initiative, with this season’s Million races the last
to be staged. Revamped in 2005, along with the launch of the two juvenile
contests for graduates, the Million Sale has become a high-profile victim of the
current economic downturn.
The Orby, whose entry fee has been cut by 25 percent, will be split into two
parts over three days, from September 29 through October 1, and absorbs the
traditional concluding Sportsman’s Sale.
“The clear message from our clients is that they want a tight, focused,
select sale of quality yearlings, and so that is exactly what we will set out to
provide at the 2009 Goffs Orby Sale,” Chief Executive Henry Beeby commented.
“The Goffs Million rejuvenated the European yearling market in 2005, but that
was during a very different climate and when we were appealing to a totally
different buyer profile.
“We have listened carefully to our clients and the consistent feedback has
been to suspend the sales races, which helps reduce owners’ costs, and focus on
providing buyers with quality horses that win at the highest level. We are
prepared for a smaller more focused sale as the horse must come first.”
The Kildare-based company also announced that they were shedding a total of
eight selling days this year, with the February and November Foal Sales included
in the paring down process.
“Goffs’ focus on quality and client feedback are the driving forces behind
the reduction in sales days in 2009,” Beeby added. “Frankly, there were too many
sales in 2008 that fell short of our high standards and served the interests of
no one.”