The Irish horse racing industry will descend on Royal Ascot today for the opening of one of the most important race meetings of the year.
It provides the richest concentration of high quality bloodstock and fortunes off the track can be determined by performances over the coming five days.
There will be over £5 million in prize money over the course of the meeting.
Last year Ireland returned with eight of the main prizes and the Aidan O’Brien trained Gleneagles is a hot favourite to take home the highlight of today’s card the St James Palace Stakes.
Over 300,000 racegoers are expected to attend the meeting, drinking 51,000 bottles of champagne alongside 2,900 lobsters and much more besides.
Quipco, the lead sponsor at the meeting recently committed to a multi million ten year deal supporting British racing.
The Qatar investment vehicle is also a strong supporter of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend on September 12th and 13th.
