The second auction race for four-year-olds that have cost E25,000 or less at public auction takes place at Durrow this Saturday.
The first of such races took place at Kirkistown earlier in the month and attracted a field of eight runners. The idea was one of the key initiatives announced by the Stewards of the INHS Committee in November 2018 was the introduction of a series of auction races for four-year-old maidens specifically designed for horses that were bought or sold at public auction in 2018 for €25,000 or less.
The series inherits some of the principles used in two successful series on the racecourse proper, the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series for National Hunt horses and the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series for two-year-olds.
Both initiatives that have proved a great success in providing opportunities for smaller owners and trainers alike with cheaper horses.
Four such four-year-old maiden auction races are set to take place between-the-flags this Spring, with the following fixtures playing host:
North Down at Kirkistown – March 9th
Brosna at Durrow – March 23rd
Duhallow at Dromahane – April 14th
Bree at Monksgrange – April 28th
To qualify to run, horses must have been bought or sold in 2018 under the hammer at the Goffs Land Rover Sale, Goffs U.K. Spring Store Sale, Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale, Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale and Tattersalls Ireland August Sale.
Please see the full conditions below.
AUCTION RACE QUALIFICATIONS FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN RACES IN 2019 FOR POINT TO POINT STEEPLECHASES
Auction races for four-year-old maidens will be restricted to horses which have been sold or bought in by public auction under the hammer at a recognised National Hunt Store sale in Ireland or Great Britain in 2018 as an unraced three-year-old.
(For the avoidance of doubt horses which are unsold having failed to reach their reserves do not qualify, nor do private sales.)
(i) The "recognised National Hunt Store sales" referred to above for these races in 2018 comprise of the following: - The Goffs Land Rover Sale, The Goffs UK Spring Store Sale, The Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale, The Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale and the Tattersalls Ireland August Sale.
(ii) The first sale will govern the price if the horse is sold more than once in 2018.
(iii) Confined to horses who have been purchased at the above sales in 2018 for €25,000 or less.
(iv) In the case of any dispute the official sale return will be used to determine the validity of the sale. The Stewards of the I.N.H.S. Committee will be the final arbiters of qualification for entry.
(v) Any sale conducted outside the sales ring (private sale) will not be considered to qualify the horse to run in these races.
Conversion Rates to € for Horses purchased in Great Britain 2018 British Pound €1.14