Tag: Horse Racing Ireland

Ministers Harris, Heydon Visit the Curragh

Edited Press Release

Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and Minister for State in Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon were interested observers at the Curragh last week as the racing industry's education and skills cohort showed off their wares.

The event was hosted by equuip, Horse Racing Ireland's education and training department, and brought together many elements of the learning community in the racing and breeding industry.

Minister Harris and Minster Heydon met students, apprentices and graduates from a host of industry learning centres such as equuip, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), RACE-Racing Academy and Centre of Education, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA), the Irish National Stud, the Farrier School, Together for Racing International (TFRI), Godolphin Flying Start Thoroughbred industry leadership programme, Agri Aware and Teagasc.

Harris said: “I was so delighted to visit The Curragh and hear from a range of stakeholders across the horse racing industry. We know how vital this industry is to Ireland and we need to showcase what we have here to the world.

“I was also so delighted to see Horse Racing Ireland partnering with our Further Education Sector to ensure that they have the skills they need in the industry. These industry collaborations are vital to ensuring apprenticeship can provide a real and substantive career pathway, with the ability to learn and earn, knowing that you will also receive a recognised qualification. Next year, we will launch a new Stud Farm Assistant apprenticeship programme.”

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‘Incredible’ Honeysuckle Wins 13th Straight Race Under Rachel Blackmore

Henry de Bromhead's superstar mare Honeysuckle extended her unbeaten run to a lucky 13 with a third consecutive Hatton's Grace Hurdle victory.
For the third year in succession, Rachael Blackmore guided the 7-year-old home at her favorite Fairyhouse by eight lengths to kickstart her season in style in the headline Grade 1 race on Sunday.

The heavy favorite watched on as Willie Mullins' Stormy Island did all the early running, but the unbeaten Champion Hurdler and queen of National Hunt racing had it sewn up by the third last.

After claiming the BARONERACING.COM Hatton's Grace Hurdle, De Bromhead said: “I'm delighted with that, Rachael was brilliant on her and they are just a lethal combination, in fairness to them.

“She was really psyched before the race, she was trying to bite and kick and the only one who was getting away with it was me, actually.

“She probably gave me a fright last year so we might have done a little bit more this year for it, but when you've only so many runs – with a lot of mine I'd let them progress, but she was pretty straight.

“She's an incredible mare and to be associated with her is amazing. The reception she's got from everyone here is incredible.

“I'm at the stage now where I tell myself 'she's going to get beaten this time'. I'm nervous before she runs but we're so lucky to have her as well. I had convinced myself all week that she was going to get beaten.”

Honeysuckle made it a magnificent seven out of seven wins in races at Fairyhouse and De Bromhead indicated she would be heading for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown next.

He added: “I think it will be the Irish Champion Hurdle next, touch wood she'll be OK. That route has worked before so we can back off her for a few weeks now, we haven't really discussed anything after today.

“It's fantastic to have [owner] Kenny (Alexander) and his family over today and it's amazing.”

De Bromhead lauded “brilliant” Blackmore for not letting Stormy Ireland get too far out ahead after Mullins' horse bolted to the front of the field virtually from the off.

The win came as Honeysuckle stepped back up in trip having not raced over 2m4f since winning this contest last year, and De Bromhead reiterated just how lucky he feels to have her under his command.

He added: “We have run her on quicker ground, in her maiden hurdle, but it was safe today.

“They were racing from a long way out. Stormy Ireland went a right gallop and we saw at Punchestown last year, you wouldn't want her getting too far in front but Rachael was aware.

“She (Stormy Ireland) stopped quite quickly, so then I was looking for the dangers behind. I just have to try to remember how brilliant Rachael is and try not to worry as much. How lucky are we to be associated with her.”

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Winter Break For Top Irish Jockeys

Ireland's leading flat jockeys will have a four-week winter break after Horse Racing Ireland restricted three Dundalk meetings in early January to apprentices or jockeys or rode fewer than 20 winners last season. The meetings are Jan. 5, 7 and 14.

Jason Morris, Horse Racing Ireland's director of racing, said, “In 2021 HRI extended the break for our leading jump jockeys from 12 to 24 days during June, which was very well received. The changes announced today, which were proposed by the Irish Jockeys' Association, will mean that we will likewise have doubled the break period for the leading Flat jockeys from 14 to 28 days, while at the same time increasing opportunities for other riders at the start of the year.”

Jennifer Pugh, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's senior medical officer, said, “Following on from the extended break for National Hunt jockeys in June of this year, it is encouraging to see HRI take a similar approach for Flat jockeys. With a busy all-weather season now in place, in what was typically the off-season for Flat jockeys, they now remain busy for 12 months of the year, with no opportune time for rest and recuperation while racing continues. The mental health issues and high level of burnout faced by jockeys have been well documented by the Irish Jockey Research Group, so it is welcome to see the findings and recommendations of these studies come to fruition to further enhance jockey wellbeing.”

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‘True Icon’: Trailblazing Jockey Rachael Blackmore To Be Honored With 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award

Jockey Rachael Blackmore will be awarded the 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards in December.

Blackmore became the first woman to claim the Cheltenham Festival Leading Jockey title with six winners. She found Champion Hurdle success with Honeysuckle (GB) on Tuesday, a Triumph Hurdle score with Quilixios (GB) on Friday and also won races in the middle of the meeting with Bob Olinger (Ire) and Sir Gerhard (Ire) on Wednesday, and Allaho (Fr) and Telmesomethinggirl (Ire) on Thursday.

She became the first woman to ride the winner of the iconic G3 Grand National with her success on Minella Times (Ire) described as “historic” by President Michael D Higgins, “a truly amazing achievement” by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D, saying, “You are once again a history maker and have done Ireland proud.”

Suzanne Eade, interim CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “Rachael's achievements on two of jump racing's biggest stages are truly historic. Not only was she the first woman to ride the winner of a championship race at Cheltenham, but Rachael also became the first woman to win the Leading Jockey Award at the festival. It is remarkable that her six winners included five at Grade 1 level.

“Her Aintree Grand National victory made headlines all over the world and that accomplishment alone will resonate with so many within the racing industry and beyond.

“Rachael has become more than a role model; she is a true icon of our wonderful sport and a most fitting winner of the 2021 Irish Racing Hero Award.”

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