Shelbourne Hotel Is Set To Sponsor The Inaugural Goffs Million Ireland's horse racing heritage is set to share some of the international limelight during the country's greatest ever sporting week, with the staging of the inaugural Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million race at The Curragh Racecourse on Tuesday, September 19th. Not only will County Kildare be hosting The Ryder Cup- the third biggest global sporting event- it will also provide the venue for the Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million, the richest horse race in Europe for 2-year olds with a top prize of 1,000,000. Open to both colts and fillies, The Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million is a seven-furlong race, with a total prize fund of 1.6m. The second feature race, The Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Fillies Five Hundred, will carry a 800,000 prize fund with a first prize of 500,000.Officially part of The Ryder Cup programme, this thrilling race is now partnered with the soon to re-opened Shelbourne Hotel as part of a substantial sponsorship agreement. The Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million is just one of two new races that will be introduced at The Curragh on the day, with a staggering total prize fund of 2.4million. 'The Shelbourne Hotel is proud to join with Goffs as sponsors of the inaugural Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million race. This represents a partnership between two strong brand names synonymous with Ireland with the capacity to establish itself as one of the great events on the Irish racing, social and business calendars.' said Bernard McNamara, Owner, Shelbourne Hotel. According to Eimear Mulhern, Chairman of Goffs Bloodstock Sales Ltd, 'The breeding industry in Ireland is going from strength to strength and is the backbone for the entire industry in Europe. Our Million race is a ?landmark' for Europe's bloodstock industry and is unparalleled by any other agency in the Northern hemisphere.It is entirely appropriate that The Shelbourne Hotel is partnering with Goffs as its links with the horse racing go back to its foundation in 1824' Excitingly, European Ryder Cup captain, Welshman Ian Woosnam is part of a syndicate called the ?Ryder Cup Syndicate' whose horses holds entries in the Million race. Along with individuals, partners and other syndicates, they will chase the same dream of winning ?the million'!And as the world's greatest golfers swing into action on day one of practice, their wives and girlfriends will join over 12,000 visitors at The Curragh racecourse for the Million day. The high-profile ?Ryder Cup Wives' will be able to experience the excitement and glamour of Irish horseracing and no doubt they will increase the public interest in the style stakes on the day! They may even decide to enter the biggest fashion prize ever offered at a race meeting in Ireland. Brown Thomas, Ireland's prestigious department store group, is providing a prize fund of 20,000 to be presented to the Most Stylish Woman on the day. The Shelbourne Hotel is due to open Autumn 2006 after a multi-million euro restoration. For the first time in over 40 years, this historical landmark is under Irish ownership. This much-loved hotel will re-open under the leadership of General Manager, Liam Doyle, and his Renaissance team, and promises to bring back the prestige and elegance that has been associated with the hotel for over 180 years. (C) PA Sport
