Leopardstown Live in Japan

Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown on Saturday, September 14th will see the first ever Japanese trained runner take part on these shores.
Deirdre will be in the line up for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes and that has prompted the race to be televised live in Japan.
This itself will give rise to a massive boost in betting on the race through the international pool betting system, as well as showing off Irish racing to Japan for the first time.
This news countered the logistical challenge of having an All Ireland Football Final replay landed on top of what would otherwise have been a quiet day in Irish sport beyond the racing.
Horse Racing Ireland moved quickly to bring forward race times in order to avoid a direct clash and is also positive about using the All Ireland on a giant screen as a selling point for going to Leopardstown on the day.
Racing will now begin on Saturday 14th September at 1.55pm with the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes moving to an earlier slot on the race list, and being off at 4.15pm.
The second Group 1 on the card, the Coolmore ‘Fastnet Rock’ Matron Stakes, moves to 5.25pm and will be the last of five live races on RTE. The broadcaster will then switch live to Croke park where the replay between Dublin and Kerry will throw in at 6 pm.
“On a fantastic day of sporting action, we will cater for those who would like to see one of the best race meetings of the year and one of the highlights of the season, as well as the All-Ireland final replay,” said Leopardstown CEO Pat Keogh.
Keogh has also taken on the role of CEO at The Curragh who will stage the second day of the multi million Euro Champions Weekend on the Sunday.
“We will be bringing a big screen experience to the football replay and, as we have seen during the Dublin Racing Festival and the Six Nations, there is an incredible atmosphere watching big games on the big screens at Leopardstown.”
“The news that Green Channel will show the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes live on their channel is fantastic news for the profile of the race and we’ve been inundated with media requests from Japan which underlines the interest there in their brilliant racemare, Deirdre.”
“It’s an incredible day’s racing and is one for the whole family to enjoy – indeed it is worth repeating that accompanied children under-18 are free and there are plenty of free children’s activities.”