The Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, which was due to be staged May 8-9, will not take place on the intended dates owing to the latest restrictions in France announced by president Emmanuel Macron on Monday.
The nation has been placed on strict lockdown until May 11 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Arqana’s Chief Executive Eric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell, as well as the organisation’s bloodstock team, have been consulting with vendors on a new timeframe and scenario to maximise trade opportunities within the restrictions that look likely to continue into the summer.
Hoyeau said: “Our endeavour is to offer the best possible working conditions for vendors and buyers despite the unprecedented level of uncertainty we’re all confronted with.
“The early June slot (2-3 or 3-4 of that month) remains an option for our breeze-up, however there is a risk that hotels and restaurants in Deauville might still be closed as well as travelling restrictions to and within Europe remaining in force.
“Therefore, and depending of how the situation pans out over the next few weeks in France and abroad, we are alternatively considering merging the breeze-up with the Summer Sale, which would then expand from June 29 to July 4, or postponing it to a later date in July.
“Regardless of the date, we will offer online bidding solutions – we are lucky that we already own an online sale platform, Arqanaonline.com, which we are adapting to the situation.”
