Prize-money increase at Champions Weekend The total prize-money for the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 10th, has been increased to €2.35 million. The Group 1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, the joint-fourth highest rated race in the world, will be worth €1.25 million, an increase of €150,000 on last year. The Group 1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes has had its value raised by €50,000 to €350,000. The total prize-money for the third renewal of Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh stands at €4.5 million. Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “We are delighted to announce the increased prize-money for the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes. These are two major international races and to attract the top horses we need to make sure that the prize-money is appropriate to races of this standing. I would like to thank QIPCO and Coolmore for their very generous support of Longines Irish Champions Weekend.”
