Irish Champions Weekend is launched No expense was spared at last night's launch of the inaugural Irish Champions Weekend held at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin. An unusually large turnout of approximately 150 included a healthy representation from the Flat training ranks. With €3.7 million up for grabs over the two-day festival of flat racing the jockeys would certainly have made their presence felt but for a clash with racing at Ballinrobe. Irish Champions Weekend takes place on the middle weekend in September, neatly sandwiched between the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Final weekends. 10 Group races with take place over the two days with begins at Leopardstown on Saturday 13th of September and concludes at the Curragh on Sunday 14th September. The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday and the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger at the Curragh on Sunday will be the feature races in a combined programme which includes five Group 1 races, two Group 2 races, three Group 3 races and four premier handicaps, each worth €150,000, making them the four most valuable flat handicaps in Ireland. Total prize-money for the two-day Irish Champions Weekend meeting will amount to €3.73 million, an increase of more than €1.4 million on the respective race values in 2013, with the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown being raised in value from €750,000 to €1 million. Newstalk Breakfast Show presenter and former bookmaker Ivan Yates did a polished job as MC for the evening, introducing Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh who gave an opening address. Brian Kavanagh said: “Flat racing worldwide is moving more and more towards high quality international meetings and with Irish Champions Weekend, Ireland now has a meeting which can bear comparison with all other major international racedays. The level and quality of sponsorship exemplifies what we set out to do in creating Irish Champions Weekend - produce a weekend of high-value races to attract the top names in international racing and showcase our flat racing industry.” Yates also interviewed Chairman of the Irish Champions Weekend Steering Committee, Harry McCalmont about the work that has gone into creating the event and the international reaction to it. Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, Pat Keogh and General Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, Paul Hensey were also interviewed about the raceday experience at each track and the additional events organised. Pat Keogh said: “The excitement around Irish Champions Weekend is really building and we look forward to welcoming the very best horses, trainers and jockeys to Leopardstown. In advance of the day’s racing, we will be staging the Goffs Champions Sale in Leopardstown which will be a select sale of horses in training which is sure to generate a lot on interest among racegoers.” Paul Hensey said: “A lot of effort has gone into planning Irish Champions Weekend and we are confident of producing a weekend of racing that is second-to-none and with every stage of entry the quality of Sunday’s card at the Curragh becomes more evident. We have had a fantastic reaction to the Curragh Thoroughbred trail which takes place before racing, giving racegoers a behind-the-scenes look into the yards of some of the world’s most famous trainers, who have made the Curragh their home.” Admission to each meeting of Champions Weekend is €20 (€18 if you book online) and a combined ticket for the two days is available for €30. The Curragh Trail costs and additional €5. Senior and Student tickets are surprisingly priced differently at each track. Leopardstown will charge €15 while the Curragh only €10. All children under 16 will be admitted Free on both days.
