Ryder Cup Race Day At The Curragh Ryder Cup Race Day taking place at the Curragh on Tuesday 19th September will be richest race day in the history of Irish Racing with total prize money in excess of ?2.7 million. Supported by Failte Ireland, the seven race programme which features the Shelbourne Hotel Goffs million, Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Fillies 500 and Group 2 Irish National Stud Blandford Stakes, is one of the official events of The 2006 Ryder Cup. In addition to the world's top horse racing professionals taking part, an impressive guest list will include the wives and partners of The Ryder Cup Team players who will attend a special race day lunch. Glen Woosnam and Melissa Lehman, the respective wives of European Captain Ian Woosnam and United States Captain Tom Lehman, will make presentations to the winning owner, trainer and jockey of Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Fillies 500 Race which takes place at 2.40pm. While Governor of Kentucky Ernie Fletcher and his wife will take part in a ceremony to highlight the close links between the Curragh and the Blue Grass State, while also promoting Louisville Kentucky as the venue for The 2008 Ryder Cup. There will be a ?Celebration of the Irish Horse', hosted by the Irish racing authority, Horse Racing Ireland, which will celebrate the many successes of Irish trainers, jockeys and horses in some of the world's most prestigious races. While the richest ever Ladies Day prize of a ?20,000 gift card courtesy of Brown Thomas is a mouth-watering prospect for ladies who attend the day to take part in the Best Dressed competition. Interest from the media is particularly strong and the Curragh expects to welcome journalists from around the globe as the world's press descends on Co.Kildare for Ryder Cup week. 'We will have additional facilities in place to cater for international media and our objective is to ensure that they will have a very positive impression of horse racing in Ireland following what undoubtedly will be one of the exciting days in the illustrious history of the Curragh' said racecourse Commercial Manager Evan Arkwright. Mitchell Platts, Director of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations of The European Tour, said: 'There is a clear synergy between golf and racing. One of Ireland's most prominent owners, JP McManus, raises millions of euros from his particularly successful JP McManus Pro-Am, hosted in association with The European Tour, and JP enjoyed winning the 2002 Dunhill links championship team event when partnered by Irish Ryder Cup player Padraig Harrington. The wives and partners of The European and Unites States Teams are eagerly looking forward to attending the Ryder Cup Race Day and we would like to congratulate the Curragh on hosting what will be a very exciting and enjoyable day.'
