The 2024 Punchestown Festival kicks off today, Tuesday 30th April to Saturday 4th May. It will see Champions on and off the track come home to Irish racing after an historic season where Irish horses won the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase at Cheltenham, the Grand National at Aintree, the King George at Kempton Park and the British trainers Championship for the first time in 70 years.
An attendance of 100,000 people is expected across the five-day event that attracts visitors from throughout Ireland, the UK, Canada and as far as Australia making the pilgrimage to Kildare.
The main attraction is the prestigious top-class racing that showcases the very best of Irish racing talent and the stars of the show include the recently crowned Champion Trainer in Britain Willie Mullins, Racheal Blackmore, Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott.
With €3.5 million in prize money on offer across 40 races featuring 12 grade one contests the standard will be as high as ever. Epic clashes of old adversaries like dual Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs and 2023 Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow are top of the bill.
In fact, a majority of feature race winners from this years Cheltenham Festival are set to line up across the week at Punchestown. Another tantalising showdown has emerged in the champion jockey category where reigning champion Paul Townend is hoping to make up ground on Dingle native Jack Kennedy who rides for the Gordon Elliott stable.
Following a reinvigorated recruitment campaign throughout the UK the number of British trained runners has more than trebled since last year. This is a very encouraging trend as hosting overseas horses and connections is a unique feature of the festival. There are many new names amongst the British trainers travelling as the next generation of handlers emerge.
The Punchestown team have committed to deliver four strategic changes at this years flagship racing festival.
Following market research and stakeholder consultation, the first two days will start at the earlier time of 2.30pm. Ticket prices have been dropped to just €30 early in the week and €40 for Friday and Saturday with concessions for seniors, students and families. Children under fourteen years of age race for free every day at Punchestown throughout the season.
The Festival layout has undergone a revamp with the old reserved enclosure barrier removed and new features included throughout. Finally, improved and enhanced food and beverage offerings and service are introduced across the site.
Over 17,000 hospitality clients from 795 companies, 158 of which are UK based, will enjoy delicious seasonal menus prepared and served by 60 chefs, 420 catering staff and 280 bar staff.
Catering for this number means large scale and three tonnes of fresh vegetables, over 60 kilos of artisan cheeses and 15,000 portions of petit four desserts and canapes will be enjoyed over the five days. Throughout the pavilions, bars and enclosures the atmosphere builds with live music, street theatre and DJ sets running alongside shopping village and full entertainment programme.
The Bollinger Best Dressed competition is one of the most prestigious style challenges on the racing calendar with finalists chosen across the first four days progressing to the final on Ladies day, Friday 3rd May. Open to all, the fresh take on race day style encourages entrants of all ages to be creative, sustainable and brave in a bid to win the ‘money can’t buy’ prize to Paris and The Bollinger Chateuax in Champagne region.
As one of Ireland’s largest events the Punchestown Festival is big business bringing a massive boost to the local economy with over €60 million generated through tourism, leisure and associated spends. However, the event also plays a significant community role working alongside local GAA clubs and charities to generate funds through volunteer schemes and fundraising initiatives.
The Punchestown Kidney Research Charity race, now in its 33rd year, has raised close to €2 million and is joined this year by charities Cara Rescue, Samaritans, and three local national school funds.
“This years festival has a great buzz about it with an extra celebratory feel as the champions return to the home of Irish jump racing,” said Punchestown CEO Conor O’Neill.
“We have rolled out some major changes in response to customer feedback with the event layout and entertainment programme better than ever. We even have good news on the weather front. All that remains is for friends old and new to join us across five brilliant days at the iconic Punchestown Festival.”
Horse racing Ireland will unveil it’s latest Strategic Plan for the next four years ahead of racing today and we will report on that in this afternoon’s PM Bulletin.
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