GROUNDSTAFF Goffs Man Friday Minvydas Mineikis, aka Minnie
Dermot Doyle is on duty in the parade ring on sales days
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Goffs
Everything we do is to make life easier for vendors and purchasers and to maximise the horse’s time in the ring
for Dermot Cantillon at Forenaghts Stud, and the late Ted Curtin. Lithuanian MINVYDAS MINEIKIS, “Minnie”, is Goffs’ Man Friday. Minnie has worked at many of the country’s best known racetracks including the Curragh, Leopardstown and Navan. In his home country he worked in the motor industry making vehicles for Land Rover. Before Naas-native JOHN BENNETT came to Goffs he worked in Newmarket. John’s gentle manner with horses stands out as he ushers each lot in and out of the sales ring. He also helps with the pre-sale preparation of the gardens and stables, as does DERMOT DOYLE from Kill Village who guides each horse in Lot order down the ramp to the auction ring. Dermot previously worked in bookmaking. Constant upgrading of the Goffs complex is a long running strategic plan for Ger and his team. In the last three years they have overseen the building of the Land Rover Pavilion at the front of the building, the redevelopment of the Goffs Kitchen grooms canteen, the refurbishment of the bar and improvements to the self-service snack area. This year the focus is on a major upgrade of the broadband at Goffs. “Everything we do is to make life easier for vendors and purchasers and to maximise the horse’s time in the ring,” Hennessy says. Ger and his team are also key to the logistics side of Goffs off-site sales at Punchestown, Kensington Palace and Leopardstown, installing temporary stables, building bespoke auctioneer rostrums and looking after all vendor requirements.
John Bennett ushers horses in and out of the sales ring
Goffs National Hunt
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12/05/2015 11:44