THE careers of Lester Piggott and Kevin Manning will be honoured at the Curragh on Gladness and Alleged Stakes day on Sunday April 16th.

In memory of Piggott, the Group 3 Gladness Stakes on the card will now be run as the Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes, sponsored by Jamie Piggott Bloodstock.

The race day will also feature a unique exhibition - curated by racing memorabilia collector Nick O’Toole - celebrating the career of the legendary rider, who died in May 2022. It will take place on Level 1 of the Curragh grandstand and will include trophies, race cards, paintings, statues, prints and photographs.

His association with the Gladness Stakes is very appropriate as not only did he ride Gladness to some of her most famous successes, including the Gold Cup at Ascot, the Goodwood Cup and the Ebor Handicap at York, but he also rode Minsky, Apalachee, Night Alert to victory in the race.

His daughter Tracy Piggott said: “The Piggott family are delighted that this special race is now being named after our father Lester. We have some great memories of him winning at the Curragh, and it was so fitting to unveil his statue there last May.”

Curragh history

In addition, on April 16th, the Curragh will also honour Kevin Manning’s classic-winning career, with Jim Bolger’s stable jockey having retired at the age of 55 last October following a winner on his final ride at Galway.

He enjoyed many of his greatest victories at the Co Kildare venue, including the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Trading Leather, as well as classic wins on Finsceal Beo (2007) and Pleascach (2015) in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas and Margarula in the 2002 Irish Oaks.

Curragh chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: “Kevin has had a remarkable career as a jockey at the highest level and we could not let his retirement pass without marking it here at the Curragh – he rode his first ever winner here at the Curragh in April 1983 and very few sportsmen get to retire after 40 years of competing at the top of their profession.

“Kevin’s dedication and skill were widely admired and we are delighted to be able to recognise his career here with family, friends, fellow jockeys and racegoers.”