Open day at Farriery School

The Irish School of Farriery in Kildare will stage an open day next Saturday, July 2nd from 12pm to 3pm. The event is open to the public. Anyone who has an interest in a career in farriery will have the opportunity to see the facilities and speak to qualified instructors.

Listowel director passes away

Listowel Races director Michael Henigan died this week. His requiem mass is at 11am today in St John’s Church, Ballybunion followed by burial in St John’s Cemetery. His family has requested that donations, if desired, be made to the Palliative Care Unit of University Hospital in Tralee.

Post filled

Richard Forristal will succeed Jonathan Mullin as Irish Editor of the Racing Post. Forristal will leave the Irish Independent to take the position when Mullin returns to RTE in the coming weeks. It was reported this week that the Racing Post is being sold by Irish company Stradbrook Acquistions to British firm Exponent Private Equity. A spokesperson for Exponent declined to comment.

Awtaad plan

Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad is likely to have his next start in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 14th. Kevin Prendergast’s star was a fine third to Galileo Gold and The Gurkha at Royal Ascot last week. The trainer said: “He came home from Ascot well and he couldn’t be in better form. We have the option of stepping up to a mile and a quarter in the Irish Champion Stakes later in the year, or we could stick at a mile in the QEII at Ascot.”