Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and the board of South Africa’s longest established sales company Bloodstock South Africa have announced sweeping enforced changes to the balance of the 2020 sales programme, with South Africa still under lockdown.
Following the looming uncertainty generated by the global threat of the coronavirus pandemic at that time, Bloodstock South Africa announced provisional sales dates on 17 March for the current year, with the proviso that these sale slots would be reviewed on updates from the South African Government.
Against the background of the extended lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 9 April, and the reshuffle of the South African racing calendar, the following amendments have been agreed upon by the Bloodstock South Africa board:
- The National Yearling Sale will be held on 30 July, 31 July and 1 August 2020. This date will not be changed, and plans are in place to hold the sale under three possible scenarios based on possible guidelines from the South African Government:
o The first scenario would be the traditional sale with no restrictions.
o The second scenario would be a traditional sale at the TBA Sales Complex with limited sized gatherings.
o The third scenario would be that, assuming the lockdown is still in place, the sale would need to be conducted virtually.
- The second sale of the year will be the National Two-Year-Old Sale to be held on 11, 12 & 13 November 2020 at the TBA Sales Complex.
o This Sale would see all horses previously entered for the KZN Yearling Sale transferred across to this sale.
o In addition, it would include all entries that breeders intended to enter for the original Two-Year-Old Sale.
o This sale will be limited to a maximum of 600 two year olds only. Acceptance on the sale shall be determined by a selection panel, and inspection if necessary.
- The Cape Mare Sale will be moved to mid-August 2020 and details of the date and format will follow in due course.
An innovative Sales Race programme, in addition to the usual Added Stakes programme, will be offered for the graduates of the National Two Year Old Sale who will now qualify for 4 sales races in 2021.
These races will carry a guaranteed minimum stake of R400 000 each.
Two races will be run in KZN during the SA Champions season, and two will be run in Gauteng at a date to be confirmed. The races will be split with a race for colts and another for fillies in each province.
It goes without saying that Bloodstock South Africa will be guided at every juncture by any rulings from the South African Government, and would always adhere to the State’s regulations.
Bloodstock SA CEO Michael Holmes said that while the board is very aware of the logistical and financial pressure that the above changes will place on breeders, they felt that the delays to the sale platform are required to afford racing in South Africa every realistic opportunity to return to some form of normality and also hopefully allow the economy time to stabilize.
“As an industry we are all in this together and need to unify in support of one another during these difficult and uncertain times. There is naturally no quick-fix for the current predicament, and definitely no ‘one size-fits-all’ solution either. We have applied our minds to take cognisance of the various difficulties and realities that breeders, both big and small, are facing. What works for one, may not be ideal for the next. Our revised programme attempts to find a balance between all factors at play – and those are not restricted to racing and breeding. On behalf of the board of Bloodstock South Africa, I would like to thank you all for your continued support, patience and understanding. We will get there together,” he added,
Should you have any queries or require further explanations please feel free to contact any of the following:
- Michael Holmes [email protected] or 0825526524
- Chris Haynes [email protected] or 0826523331
- Alistair Gordon [email protected] or 0825515462
