Weekly Horse Racing News as Nina Carbery and Katie Walsh honoured

Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry, who brought the curtain down on outstanding careers with winners at the Punchestown Festival in April, were honoured with the inaugural Irish Racing Hero Award at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards in Dublin this evening. It was a fairytale night for women jockeys with one of the stars of the current jumps season, Rachael Blackmore, also taking an award.

The winners in ten categories, including four new awards, were announced at a ceremony which was attended by many of the industry’s leading figures. Guest of honour was Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD and guests were welcomed by Chairman of HRI, Nicky Hartery.

The winners of the 16th annual awards were: Irish Racing Hero Award: Katie Walsh & Nina Carberry; Contribution to the Industry Award: Dr Adrian McGoldrick; Horse of the Year Award: Alpha Centauri; National Hunt Award: Willie Mullins; Flat Award: Donnacha O’Brien; National Hunt Achievement Award: Rachael Blackmore; Flat Achievement Award: Patrick Prendergast; Point-To-Point Award: Barry O’Neill; Ride of the Year Award: Derek O’Connor; Racecourse of the Year Award: Punchestown Racecourse.

Horse racing charities present an audience with Joe Schmidt

Three horse racing charities, Irish Injured Jockeys, the Irish Horse Welfare Trust and the Drogheda Memorial Fund and have come together to host ‘An Audience with Joe Schmidt’ on Thursday January 17, 2019, at 1pm in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge. Irish rugby’s record-breaking head coach will discuss his love of horse racing, his involvement in racehorse ownership, his early days as a basketball coach, his life changing decision to move his family from New Zealand to Ireland, and his transition to one of rugby’s greatest ever coaches. With Ireland pushing New Zealand all the way in the world rankings, 2019 is shaping up to be a huge year for Irish rugby. Joe will chat to Hugh Cahill, RTÉ’s rugby commentator, about Ireland’s chances at the upcoming Six Nations Championship, the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, his decision to step down as coach of the Irish rugby team next year and his plans for the future. Guests will get the chance to ask Joe questions in a Q&A session afterwards.
 
The event will also feature a charity auction which will include an array of racing and sporting items and memorabilia, concert tickets, art, luxury hotel stays, rounds of golf with sporting stars and a VIP day at the races. Tables of 10, which include lunch, are now available for €1,000. Please contact Donal O’Shea from the Drogheda Memorial Fund on 045 445 620 or by email:donal.oshea@ihrb.ie

Upcoming Fixtures

Tramore – Thursday, December 13 (First Race 12.25)

Dundalk – Friday, December 14 (First Race 6.00)

Fairyhouse – Saturday, December 15 (First Race 12.05)

Navan – Sunday, December 16 (First Race 12.00)