Leopardstown Seeking New Sponsor for Champion Stakes

Leopardstown Racecourse is on the lookout for a new sponsor for the Irish Champions Stakes following the decision of Qatari Investment Fund Quipco to exit after six years.

The race is recognised as one of the highest quality in the world and has been central to the establishment of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

According to a report in this morning’s Irish Times, the decision was made six weeks ago that the sponsor was to focus its attention on British Racing where it is a major backer of Champions Day at Ascot.

The Irish deal when the Champions Weekend was created in 2014 was a natural extension on the world stage for the fund whose principal Sheihk Fahad Bin Abdullah Bin Thani is a major fan of the sport.

The first Classic Race that he and his family won was the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in 2012 and Ireland has played a central role in his bloodstock buying since then.

Finding a replacement for the sponsors in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be a challenge but this is one of those events which, while taking place on Irish soil is very much in the eye of the international racing audience.

Leopardstown has had great success in recent years winning sponsorship deals for major races with Microsoft, Savills and Paddy Power.

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