THERE are over 60 stallion nominations and approximately 40 training yard visits on offer in a charity online auction which ends on Sunday (January 7th).

The Racing For A Reason Online Charity Auction, hosted by ThoroughBid, features yard visits with a host of top trainers across Britain and Ireland as well as nominations to established and upcoming stallions.

The auction is raising money for the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. A total of 128 lots have been donated.

Stallion nomination lots include increasingly popular National Hunt sires Triple Threat, Way To Paris, and Fifty Stars, while for flat breeders there are covers by Inns Of Court, Shaman and Dawn Approach on offer.

Of the trainers donating a yard visit, notable names include Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Lucinda Russell and Henry de Bromhead.

By midweek over £20,000 had been pledged. Stallion nominations to Far Above, Triple Threat and Fifty Stars were the early top lots, with bidding sitting at £3,750, £2,750 and £2,000 respectively, while Willie Mullins is responsible for the highest bid amongst the yard visits.

Orchestrator of the auction, Simon Besanson said: “We’re delighted with the early interest in the auction. Raising over £20,000 in the first 48 hours is a very bright start and we look forward to seeing the competition for some very exciting lots hot up as we head into the weekend.

“The auction closes on Sunday, so head over to ThoroughBid and take a look before it’s too late. There is something for everyone on there, from yard visits and breakfasts at racing’s leading stables, one-off paintings, stallion nominations, syndicate memberships and more. Fingers crossed we can reach a big number by Sunday evening.”

Sinead Gillespie of the Irish Cancer Society, said: “We cannot thank ThoroughBid enough for hosting the Racing For A Reason online charity auction. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to those who so generously donated lots for the auction itself.

“The Irish Cancer Society receives only 5% of its funding from the Government, so it’s because of fundraising efforts like the Racing For A Reason online charity auction, that we can provide free services and supports, to ensure nobody in Ireland faces cancer alone.”

CEO of ThoroughBid, James Richardson, said: “The racing community proves itself to be a kind one time and time again, and the Racing For A Reason Online Charity Auction exemplifies this perfectly. We are delighted to be providing a platform upon which the auction can take place and look forward to a competitive bidding period for some very exciting prizes.

Besanson added: “The charities involved are very close to my heart, the whole enterprise being inspired by my father’s cancer diagnosis, and it’s so heartening to see such kind offerings from top trainers, studs and racing businesses in both the UK and Ireland.”

Web: ThoroughBid.co.uk