Ireland | Horse Racing Free Tips

Interest in Horse Racing in Ireland Increasing

Following a nationwide poll, interest in horse racing in Ireland has increased, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Wednesday. A poll of over 1,000 people, conducted by the Red C research company between Feb. 8-Feb. 15, aimed at understanding the adult population's attitudes toward horse racing. The results are as follows:

In 2021, 39% of the population have an interest in horse racing versus 23% last year
A total of 85% of racing fans are missing attending race meetings
19% of racing fans plan to attend more race meetings than previously
27% of 18-34 year-olds plan to attend more race meetings than previously
40% of the population would have some interest in joining a racing syndicate or racing club.

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “The results of the poll demonstrate that interest in horse racing has increased through the pandemic. While racing has been held behind closed doors since March of last year, it is heartening that such a large percentage of racing fans are eager for a return to the racecourse.

“The numbers of people getting involved in racehorse ownership continues to rise and the survey results reflect this increased appetite. Racehorse ownership is the key catalyst for growth at every level of the industry.”

Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses and HRI's Director of Commercial & Marketing, added, “The figure of 60% for people who follow the sport on a weekly basis is well up on the 2020 equivalent of 47%. The feedback shows that HRI's 'On Your Terms' television ad campaign has performed very well among sports and racing fans.

“It is such a positive that there has been an increased number of racemeetings broadcast live on terrestrial television and this has been very well received. We are grateful to both RTÉ and TG4 for their increased commitment to Irish Racing.

“Indeed, the new broadcasting deal with RTÉ for live coverage of Irish horse racing for the next three years will deliver a record number of free-to-air live racing days in Ireland.”

The post Interest in Horse Racing in Ireland Increasing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Half to West End Girl Highlights Goresbridge Breeze Up Catalogue

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale is now online. A total of 226 lots will go under the hammer at Park Paddocks for the second consecutive year, as the sale was moved from its traditional Irish venue due to continued COVID-19 restrictions. The breezes will take place at the Rowley Mile at 9 a.m. on June 2, with the sale proper slated for June 3 at 10:30 a.m. John and Thady Gosden and HH Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum celebrated a win in the Lincoln with Haqeeqy (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), the 2019 sale topper, earlier this spring.

Among the sires to be represented are: Acclamation (GB), Ardad (Ire), Bated Breath (GB), Caravaggio, Cotai Glory (GB), Dandy Man (Ire), Dark Angel (Ire), Exceed And Excel (Aus), Frankel (GB), Hard Spun, Kodi Bear (Ire), Kodiac (GB), Lope de Vega (Ire), Make Believe (GB), Mehmas (Ire), New Bay (GB), Night of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Pivotal (GB), Profitable (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire), Showcasing (GB), Starspangledbanner (Aus), and Street Boss.

Some notable lots include: lot 13, a bay colt by Acclamation (GB) who is a half-brother to Group 3 winner West End Girl (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}); Dark Angel (Ire)'s son of Kathoe (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}) (lot 39) who is also a half-brother to Group 3 winner Koropick (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}); a Goldencents half-brother (lot 41) to GII Breeders' Cup Marathon hero London Bridge (Arch); MGSW Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy)'s Le Havre (Ire) half-brother as lot 64; a Dabirsim (Fr) filly out of French group winner Percolator (GB) (Kheleyf) (lot 94); lot 152, a chestnut colt by Pivotal (GB) who is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Mobsta (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}); and a full-brother to French Group 3 winner Alistair (Fr) (Panis) (lot 181).

In 2020, 125 juveniles sold for a gross of £3,473,006. The average was £27,784 and the median was £20,000. Topping the sale at £220,000 was a filly by Kitten's Joy out of Desertstormelite (Chester House).

The post Half to West End Girl Highlights Goresbridge Breeze Up Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

What’s In A Name: Joan of Arc

Racing success makes the name of a horse just right in most cases, and this is likely to happen with very promising 3-year-old filly JOAN OF ARC, a winner at The Curragh Mar. 21, the first day of spring. Still, this beautiful name seems so appropriate even now, because of the underlying historical connection between the French heroine Joan of Arc and the great scientist Galileo Galilei. In fact, both Joan of Arc and Galileo got in trouble with the Inquisition–to put it mildly. It was, and it was not, the very same Catholic Inquisition. There is a time difference of almost exactly two centuries. Joan, prisoner of the English, had to face the Church court of the Bishop of Beauvais (1431), while Galileo was summoned and tried by an inquisitory tribunal in Rome, with the Pope almost looking on (1633). Both were accused of heresy and of contradicting the Scriptures. Joan was charged because of her testimony of hearing the voices of Saints and wearing men soldiers' clothes, while Galileo's crime was to have declared that the earth moves around the sun, and not the other way around. Both had moments of weakness in the face of unfair clerical persecution, and retreated for a while, but not for long. They were found guilty. Joan, at 19 years of age, faced the harsher fate and was burned at the stake, while Galileo was put to house arrests until his death. They were colossal figures. Joan practically won the 100 Years' War for the French and liberated her country. Galileo is the father of modern physics and astronomy. The very last words of “Saint Joan,” George Bernard Shaw's play about Joan of Arc, seem a fitting tribute to both: “O God that made this beautiful earth, when will it be ready to accept thy saints? How long, O lord, how long?”

3rd-Curragh, €12,000, Mdn, 3-21, 3yo/up, f, 7fT, 1:33.26, s/h. JOAN OF ARC (IRE) (f, 3, Galileo {Ire}–You'resothrilling {GSW-Eng, GSW-Ire, $219,415}, by Storm Cat) Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $11,747. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.

The post What’s In A Name: Joan of Arc appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tara Stud’s River Boyne Has First Mares In Foal

Grade I winner River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) has his first few mares scanned in foal, Tara Stud announced via Twitter on Tuesday. The GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile hero's first three mares bred were all pregnant. He stands for €5,000 this year.

“Excited to announce that River Boyne has his first three mares covered all scanned in foal,” the stud tweeted. “The Grade I winner has taken very well to his new career and is proving very popular with breeders.”

The post Tara Stud’s River Boyne Has First Mares In Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post