The Longines Irish Champions Weekend was officially launched at UCD last night with a gathering of racing and sporting luminaries on hand to witness news of the staggering €4.5 million that will be on offer in prize money.
That will be the prize fund on offer over 16 races in what has become far and away the richest racing weekend of the year.
The Champions Weekend was brought to life in 2014 as a response to their being a perceived absence of the irish Racing Industry from the highest levels of international competition in the sport at that time of year.
It already sits comfortably alongside major and long established events in the UK at Newmarket and Ascot, France at Longchamp and the US for the Breeders’ Cup.
Leading trainers Aidan O’Brien, Jim Bolger and Willie Mullins were in attendance alongside representatives from perhaps the most glittering array of sponsors that Irish sport has ever assembled.
They include Longines, the very high end watch manufacturer who have headline sponsorship of the weekend; Jaguar who had a vehicle parked up outside the O’Reilly Hall; Major Qatar investment company Quipco; KPMG; Palmerston House Estate and more than a dozen other commercial partners.
Quality
The weekend is about more than the racing as well with elements of the industry pulling together to ensure that the biggest players in the international thoroughbred racing fraternity are given full visibility of the quality Ireland has in terms of breeding, sales and training.
“Longines Irish Champions Weekend has become everything we hoped it would,” said Leopardstown Chief Executive Pat Keogh.
“The feature race, the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, is the fourth highest-rated race in the world and is supported by a wonderful festival of top quality international racing.”
Derek McGrath, Chief Executive of the Curragh Racecourse having served in a similar role with European Rugby prior to switching codes added “This is my first year being involved with Longines Irish Champions Weekend and I am taken with how the Irish racing industry has come together to support a truly remarkable event.”
“The level of interest being shown by so many overseas trainers is certainly reflected in the strength of entries for the five Group 1s and their supporting races.”
There was more rugby presence as well with Ronan O’Gara on hand as an ambassador for the event alongside his wife Jessica.
“Sport at this level is particularly exhilarating so it is a pleasure for me to be the Sport Ambassador this year for Longines Irish Champions Weekend.”
“Everyone knows that I love the sport of racing so to travel home to Ireland with Jessica for the weekend will be very special.”
