A Brief History
The name Goffs has been synonymous with Irish bloodstock sales for nearly 140 years.
Robert J. Goff was appointed official auctioneer to the Turf Club in 1866 when the following announcement in the Irish Racing Calendar ushered in a new era for bloodstock vendors:
When the newly appointed official auctioneer conducted his first sale at the Royal Dublin Society Sales Paddocks in Dublin, the facilities were rudimentary, with only half a dozen boxes and a makeshift parade ring. However the merit of supporting a local sales company, rather than the cross-channel alternatives, was not lost on Irish breeders and the new venture flourished steadily over the years. The first lot sold under the R. J. Goff hammer was a brown filly by the stallion Arbitrator for 350 guineas.
In 1907, after Robert Goff's death, Patrick J. Brophy of Newbridge became a partner with Richard F. Gannon and Mrs. Goff. The Company was run by these three until 1922 when it became a limited company under the chairmanship of Edward Kennedy, the renowned breeder of "the spotted wonder", The Tetrarch. A board of directors consisting of Frederick S. Myerscough, Patrick J. Brophy, Senator J. J. Parkinson and Col. A. J. Blake completed the new management team.
In 1925, on the death of Edward Kennedy, Frederick Myerscough became chairman and managing director. This was forging a connection with the company which was destined to continue for three generations through his son, Cyril, and two grandsons, Robert and Philip Myerscough. Under Frederick Myerscough, a branch office was maintained in Newbridge but the company established its main offices in Dublin at Sewell & Son and Simpson's Yard in Mount Street where sales were held in addition to those at the R.D.S.
Indeed Goffs has a strong tradition of family involvements. Captain Michael Hall, the popular Manager of Goffs for a long number of years, is even today still remembered by many current Goffs clients and his son Robert is a member of the auctioneers' panel.
The sales firm made its greatest impact in the National Hunt sphere in these formative years, contributing to the worldwide reputation of the Irish steeplechaser. During World War II, greyhound sales were held successfully by Goffs at Harolds Cross for a brief period. Goffs still have more Grand National, Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winners than any other bloodstock sales company.
Grand National winners sold by Goffs include Sergeant Murphy, Tipperary Tim, Gregalach, Shaun Goilin, Grakle, Caughoo, Sheila's Cottage, Freebooter, Quare Times, Sundew, Nicholas Silver, Team Spirit, Foinavon, L'Escargot, and West Tip. The most unlucky loser in the historic steeplechase, H.M. Queen Elizabeth's Devon Loch, was purchased at Goffs, as, appropriately, had been his conqueror, E.S.B.
Two National Hunt "greats", Golden Miller, who won the Grand National in 1934, and the mighty Arkle, were both acquired as yearlings at Goffs Sales. Golden Miller was bought in 1928 for a mere 100 guineas, while Arkle was purchased by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, for 1,150 guineas as a three year old.
To these illustrious names can be added triple Grand National winner Red Rum, sold by Goffs as a Yearling in 1966 for 406 guineas. Arguably the most outstanding Goffs bargain of them all, however, must surely have been the celebrated Hatton's Grace who cost a mere 18 guineas!
In 1953 Frederick Myerscough retired and the chairmanship was taken over by Col. A. J. Blake who continued in this position until 1963 when Cyril Myerscough took over the reins. During this period, an impressive tally of flat race champions were sold at Goffs - the roll of honour includes Epsom Derby winners Hard Ridden and Larkspur: Irish Derby winners Dark Warrior, Thirteen of Diamonds, Talgo, Sindon, Fidalgo, Chamour, Ragusa and Meadow Court, thereby laying the foundations of a tradition which has been carried on up to the present day by top group winners such as Generous, Kooyonga, Oath, Island Sands, Snurge and Desert King.
The mid-seventies marked a major turning point for Goffs. The cause was the sale in 1973 by the Royal Dublin Society of their sales paddocks at Ballsbridge in Dublin where Goffs had been selling for so many years. To survive, Goffs were obliged to seek a new site and a large injection of capital for the construction of a complete new sales complex. The selected location was a 78 acre property strategically located on the main arterial route between Dublin and the Curragh at Kill in Co. Kildare.
Robert J. Goff & Co. was transformed into a new public unquoted company with 500 shareholders, the majority of whom were thoroughbred breeders, under the chairmanship of Patrick W. McGrath. Large international shareholders involved in the company as a result of these changes include Fasig Tipton Inc., Bertram R. Firestone, Walter Haefner, Robert Sangster and Khalid Abdullah. The task was to persuade the Irish breeders, who were still selling 60% of their bloodstock by value abroad, to support an indigenous sales company.
In tandem with building the most modern sales complex ever undertaken, Goffs management set about convincing Irish breeders that as from September 1975, launch date for the new Kildare Paddocks, there would no longer be any necessity to travel to Newmarket or Doncaster, both located towards the east of England, to find international buyers. Even as late as 1974, only 18% of all Irish bloodstock was offered in Ireland. The outcome can only be described as spectacular. By the end of 1981 there had been a dramatic swing. Goffs had achieved over 50% of the Irish horses sold at public auction in United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
From sales of £2.6 million in 1974, turnover leaped to £5m in 1975, one of the highlights being a new European record for a yearling at 127,000 gns. The yearling was named Be My Guest and was later syndicated as a three year old for £800,000 before becoming European Champion Sire in 1982.
By 1977, the new company reported its first operating profit of £59,400. Goffs were never afraid to innovate and a variety of ancillary activities were introduced to supplement the main function. A comprehensive equine insurance service was launched; a bloodstock transport company formed; and the prestige sales complex at Kill was utilised for many different purposes, including stage shows television programmes, pedigree cattle sales, conferences, exhibitions, and the Benson & Hedges Irish Masters Snooker Tournament.
New international contacts were forged by the Goffs' sales team and top buyers from all over the world were lured to Kill. Auctioneers were in turn supplied by the Kill based firm to sales companies in France, Australia, California, Kentucky, South Africa and Zimbabwe. These early contacts were followed in 1978 by the company's purchase of a controlling interest in France's oldest and most famous bloodstock auctioneering house. In the first year of trading, Goffs France got off to a flying start by establishing a world record for a foal at public auction - FF 2,450,000 (£283,000), for a colt by Riverman out of Valita.
Since then many successful horses have passed through their sales ring. The Goffs France Arc de Triomphe Sale is now the best Horses in Training Sale in Europe. Apart from its success as a sales company, Goffs France expands the Group's influence in Europe, in addition to strengthening the strong ties developed with the French themselves.
By 1984/85 group turnover had soared to 43.4 million guineas, with 2,073 horses sold. Several new sales "highs" had been set along the way, including the 900,000 guineas European record for Arkadina at the 1981 November Breeding Stock Sales, a record which was only beaten when Turkish Treasure was sold at the 1985 November Breeding Stock Sales for a new European record price of 1.2 million guineas. However, none of the records set by Goffs exemplified the growth of the company, or that of' the Irish thoroughbred industry, as dramatically as the 3.1 million guineas bid by agent Tote Cherry-Downes, on behalf of Sheik Mohammed at the 1984 Invitation Yearling Sale. Even now that price has been beaten only once for a European Yearling.
In 1986 Dr. Paddy McGrath stepped down as Chairman of Robert J Goff after thirteen years and on his retirement was appointed to the position of Honorary Life President of the Group. Dr Michael Dargan took over the Chairmanship in 1986 which he held until 2004 and was also later appointed Honorary Life President.
Goffs pioneered the concept of incentive races allied to major sales in Europe. The Cartier Million was developed with gusto by Chief Executive Jonathan Irwin, and contributed significantly to the growth of business at Goffs. The race and sale helped to establish the name of Goffs on an even greater international stage.
A number of significant records have been set at Goffs in recent years and the steady stream of top class winners emerging from the sales continues unabated. Few years have been as notable on the racecourse as 1999 with five European classic winners having been purchased at Goffs, although 2008 has also been a year of incredible success with the English Derby, Irish Derby and Irish 1000 Guineas all falling to Goffs graduates.
In 1996, Goffs established the Goffs Land Rover Sale, associated with the world's richest bumper, which has been one of the great successes in the National Hunt industry. In more recent times Goffs has further diversified its National Hunt side by entering the Breeze Up market. Goffs work in the National Hunt sector has reaped huge rewards and many of the leading NH performers of recent years have passed through the sales ring at Goffs, including Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace, Beef Or Salmon and Newmill.
Goffs brought incentive races to a new level with the introduction in 2005 of the Goffs Million concept under the Chairmanship of Eimear Mulhern, in which graduates of the company's flagship yearling sale compete for the richest juvenile prizes in European racing. Goffs have illustrated their commitment to attracting new blood into flat ownership by growing the concept year on year. In 2006 Million graduates competed for €2.4 million, which grew to €3.2 million the following year across a filly's race and colt's race, while yearlings sold at Goffs in 2007 stand to win a potential €5,300,000 in prize money making it the Most Valuable Sales Race Incentive in the World. Vendors and purchasers alike have embraced the Million with enthusiasm resulting in turnover for the sale increasing by 173% in the first two years.
In March 2007 Goffs held a highly successful breeze up sale on the Polytrack surface at Kempton Racecourse in London. A groundbreaking foray for Goffs, this was the company's first sale to be staged in the UK and the first ever Polytrack Breeze Up in Europe. Goffs created a new era in Irish bloodstock sales with the staging of a flat and National Hunt Breeze Up at Ireland's newest all weather track in Dundalk in 2008.
In 1999 Goffs appointed a Group Chief Executive in Oliver O'Reilly to work alongside the Bloodstock Managing Director, initially Phillip Myerscough and latterly Matt Mitchell. O'Reilly succeeded Michael Osborne as Chairman of Robert J. Goff in 2005 before retiring as CEO in 2007 and Chairman in 2008. Eimear Mulhern, who had chaired Goffs Bloodstock Sales since 2005, was appointed chairman of the group in March 2008.
One of the most significant chapters in the history of Goffs came in 2007 with the landmark merger of Goffs and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Ltd (DBS) under the Robert J. Goff and Co. Plc. Banner which saw Henry Beeby of DBS take up the position of Group Chief Executive.
Goffs is Ireland's leading Bloodstock Sales Company and DBS is the second largest and fastest growing Thoroughbred Auction House in the UK. Combined with a major shareholding in the leading French Sales company Arqana, the group is committed to becoming the leading European Sales Company by offering an unrivalled customer focused service to the Bloodstock Industry.