Curragh to stage race named after O'Neill

Jimmy 'Slim' O'Neill, winner of the Irish Racing Excellence Award at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards will have a race named in his honour at the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Trials meeting, this Saturday, 20th August at the Curragh.

The Jimmy O’Neill Irish Racing Excellence Curragh Stakes is the fourth race on the seven-race card and goes to post at 3:20pm. The first race is at 1:40pm.

Jimmy, who is assistant trainer to John Oxx at Curragbeg Stables in Kildare was also the winner of the Dedication to Racing Award at the ceremony held at the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick on Tuesday, April 19th.

Originally from Cabra in Dublin, Jimmy has lived in Kildare, working in Oxx’s Currabeg Stables, for the last 42 years.

James received €2,500 and a specially-commissioned trophy for winning the Dedication to Racing Award and an additional €5,000 and the overall winner’s trophy. His colleagues in Currabeg shared €5,000, which is an additional part of the award for Irish Racing Excellence.

Jimmy O’Neill commented: “It was a great honour to win the Irish Racing Excellence Award and to have a race named after me really adds to that accolade. I’m really looking forward to the day and I’d like to thank The Curragh Racecourse and Godolphin.”

Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse said: “Jimmy has been a fantastic role model for stable staff all over Ireland and we are delighted to honour his achievements as he has been associated with so many major winners at the Curragh.”