Breeder award
Eamon Salmon of Fortbarrington Stud in Athy, Co Kildare, is the December winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills/The Irish Field Breeder of the Month competition. He bred Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle winner Prince Of Scars.
Weather woes
Today’s East Down point-to-point has been postponed until next Saturday (February 6th) due to bad weather. Last Tuesday’s replacement fixture at Tramore was also lost.
Gale’s first foal
Irish National Stud resident Gale Force Ten has sired his first foal. The filly was born at Bob McCreery’s Stowell Hill in Somerset where the Royal Ascot winner himself was foaled six years ago. The filly foal is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Bidding Time.
HRI internships
The student internship programme for 2016, promoted by Horse Racing Ireland, is now open to applicants. Placements will be made in each of the four HRI racecourses: Fairyhouse, Navan, Leopardstown and Tipperary, as well as HRI headquarters in Newbridge, Co Kildare. The internships begin at the end of May and will run for 10-12 weeks. Those interested should send an application along with a CV and cover letter to Kate O’Sullivan, Marketing Department, Horse Racing Ireland, Ballymany, The Curragh, Co KIldare, by March 7th.
Free admission
Limerick Racecourse will throw open its gates on Wednesday week, February 10th. The replacement fixture starts at 1.25pm and, along with free admission, racegoers will receive a free racecard and €5 betting voucher. Track manager Conor O’Neill says the gesture is to thank patrons who supported Limerick through the challenging festive period.
Powerful profits
Paddy Power expects to have an end-of-year operating profit of approximately €180 million following strong trade in the final weeks of last year. The bookmaking giant is due to merge with Betfair next week.
Murphy’s recruits
Sizing Granite, a Grade 1 winning chaser, has been moved to Co Wexford trainer Colm Murphy by his owners, Ann and Alan Potts, according to The Irish Times. The horse was formerly handled by Henry de Bromhead, as was Mick Thonic, which has also moved to the Murphy yard.
Prolific winner dies
Trainer Paul Fahey reports that his star campaigner He’llberemembered has been put down after suffering a leg fracture on the gallops. The 13-year-old won 11 races on the track, including the past three runnings of the Premier County Hurdle at Thurles. Fahey said: “He gave us a lot of good days and great nights. Winning the Leopardstown Chase was perhaps his finest moment and we were very proud when he jumped around the Aintree fences in 2014.”
Stable staff awards
Nominations for the 2016 Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards close on February 12th. The awards encompass 10 categories, which carry total prize money of €70,000. This year, the Lifelong Learning Award has been replaced by the Newcomer Award. The awards will be presented in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick on Tuesday evening, April 19th. Nomination forms are available online on the Godolphin or ISSA website or from HRI’s office in Newbridge, Co Kildare.
New Betdaq role
John Sheridan, former press officer with Show Jumping Ireland, has a new role with sports betting exchange Betdaq. Having joined Betdaq in 2014 as a marketing executive, Sheridan is now Brand and Promotions Manager.
Prince retired
Top hunter chaser Prince De Beauchene has been retired. The 13-year-old won 11 races under rules and defeated On The Fringe at Leopardstown last year.