Curragh project on display

RACEGOERS at the Curragh next Sunday (September 1st) will have the opportunity to learn more about the track’s €70 million redevelopment, which is due to be completed in time for the 2019 racing season.

On Sunday week the ‘Curragh Development Interactive Information Area’ in the Grand Hall Marquee will showcase the new development. Racegoers can view the spectacular new grandstand via virtual reality and representatives of the Curragh and building team will give an overview of the overall development project.

John Sisk & Son, the main contractor, is the raceday sponsor. They also created all the trophies in wood for their four races on the day in their own joinery workshop in Dublin.

New role for Evan Arkwright

IN line with the redevelopment of the facility, the Curragh Racecourse is announcing new organisational roles and has appointed Evan Arkwright as Racing Manager, a new role which he will take up in the coming months. He will be primarily responsible for the development and the delivery of the racing programme and associated raceday activities as a member of the senior executive team.

Arkwright will transition from his current role as Commercial Manager, which he has held at the Curragh since 2002. He has previously built his experience in other managerial roles with Weatherbys Ireland and the Emirates Racing Association

Jackson aims for treble

DEREK Jackson, a winner twice before in 2007 and 2010, is going for the treble today as he tackles racing’s oldest and longest race – the Newmarket Town Plate. It has been run on the Round Course since 1666. Jackson rides Gordon Elliott’s former Cheltenham Festival winner Flaxen Flare.

Leinster breeders invited to meeting

THE ITBA Leinster Region is hosting an open meeting for breeders on Tuesday, September 4th at 7.30pm in the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge. The ITBA’s EU lobbyist Michael Treacy will attend. The meeting has been organsied by John McEnery of Rosenarra Stud, who was recently elected to the ITBA council to represent the Leinster region.

Korean target

RIVEN Light, winner of the Galway Mile this year and last year, is an intended runner in the €770,000 Keeneland Korea Cup in Seoul on September 9th. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding is owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, who enjoyed a major Japanese success with the Mullins-trained Blackstairmountain in 2013. The Korea race is run on deep sand, not unlike one of the gallops used by Mullins. Japanese horses have tended to dominate the race and Michael Halford’s Wild Dude, an American Grade 1 winner, was unplaced in the race two years ago. It’s hoped that an Irish win in the race would boost Korean interest in Irish bloodstock.

Australia trip

ADAM Short and Donal McInerney will fly out to Australia this weekend to join Australian-based jockeys Martin Kelly and Shane Jackson to make up the Irish team for the 2018 Australia v Ireland Jockey Challenge. The event will take place at Morphettville next Saturday where the teams will compete in a hurdle race and chase for the coveted title.

Both jockeys had to secure working visas before travelling, an issue which prevented Davy Russell and Mark Enright from riding in Saratoga this week.