Goffs is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Richards to the newly created role of British Agent for the Irish auction house. Mark’s focus will be to attract new and existing British buyers to sales at Kildare Paddocks, with a particular emphasis on promoting the flagship Goffs Orby, November and Land Rover Sales. He will commence his new role on 1 May.
To take up the position Mark is returning to Newmarket after 20 years in Hong Kong where he has fulfilled a variety of roles with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, starting out as a broadcaster before being appointed Racing Club Manager and more recently Executive Manager of the International Sale for which he travelled to the major yearling sales around the world successfully purchasing horses on behalf of the HKJC.
Since his early days as a successful National Hunt jockey, Mark has 45 years’ experience within the international racing industry, moving into broadcasting where he contributed to a number of media outlets including the Racing Post, Daily Telegraph, Racing Channel, Sky and TVN. Throughout his career he has maintained a list of global contacts and ensured regular interaction with owners, trainers and agents across the United Kingdom, all of which will assist his new role in bringing UK buyers to Goffs.
Commenting on the appointment, Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby said:
“We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Goffs team. A familiar face at Kildare Paddocks during his time buying for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he brings a wealth of experience and an extensive list of contacts to the role, while his passion for racing, personable approach and reputation of working to the highest standards ties in perfectly with the Goffs ethos.
“UK buyers represent the largest overseas market for so many of our top tier sales and we look forward to promoting Goffs to new and existing contacts through Mark who further strengthens Goffs’ excellent client liaison team and roster of international agents”.
Mark Richards added:
“My experience working with owners, trainers, agents and racing managers across many areas of the racing industry has given me a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of clients attending sales, highlighting the importance for auction houses to offer a professional, transparent and personal service.
“As a regular Orby buyer for many years with the HKJC, I am very aware of the strengths of the sale and have first-hand experience of the famous Kildare welcome and attention to detail. It is an honour to join the Goffs team and I look forward to bringing the company’s personal approach and impeccable standards to a wider field of clients in the UK as they attend the major Goffs Flat and National Hunt sales in Ireland”.
This latest appointment follows last week’s announcement of Jacob West, one of the rising stars of the American bloodstock industry, as the Goffs’ new US agent and further strengthens the Goffs purchaser attraction team.
Goffs International Agents:
Australasia – Mark Player
Eastern Europe – Kishore Mirpuri
Germany – Matthias Seeber
Italy – Angelo Robiati & Gianluca di Castelnuovo
Japan – Takaya Kimura
Scandinavia – Filip Zwicky
UK – Mark Richards
USA – Jacob West