ICW can be

improved

Sir, - What a fantastic weekend of competitive international racing we had for our inaugural Irish Champions Weekend.

The crowds, atmosphere and excitement were all we had hoped for but hardly dared to expect. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those, so many, people who made it all possible.

The sponsors, of course, without whom no meeting of this scale even gets off the ground. They were brilliant and brave to back a new concept such as this and their feedback has been excellent. We look forward to working with them all again.

The hard working and committed team of the Irish Champions Weekend Committee, including the EBF, HRI and the Curragh and Leopardstown Racecourses. This idea was a leap of faith for all of us but everyone involved was fully behind the scheme from the start.

Most importantly, a huge thank you to all of you, owners, trainers, jockeys, breeders, punters and enthusiasts who supported this weekend in your thousands. I know the weather was more than good to us but occasionally you get lucky!

We on the committee are only too well aware how many things we have to improve on for next year, and we will. With your help we can make this a permanent fixture in Ireland’s racing and social calendar. Nothing more than the Irish racing and breeding industry deserves. - Yours, etc.

HARRY McCALMONT

Chairman,

Irish Champions Weekend Committee

Clarify child safety rules

Sir, - As an avid racing supporter I felt duty-bound to support Irish Champions Weekend. A beautiful if unprofitable afternoon last Saturday was spent at Leopardstown.

However, there are two gripes I must ask your paper to consider covering.

The lesser of these is the standard of the public address system. During the main race of the day the commentary was for me a stream of unintelligible noise. I have no doubt this was not the fault of the commentator but of the standard of equipment under the stands.

Of far more pressing concern, however, was what I witnessed occur during the celebrations by connections of the big race winner.

As the formalities ended and the horses for the last race had been mounted, two adults accompanied a child of no more than three years into the parade ring. There were surely 250 or more people in the ring and 21 runners in the last.

With youthful enthusiasm this innocent child proceeded to tug forcibly to escape the clutches of the more senior of the adults. Should the grasp have been lost this child would, in a flash, have made it to the well-shod feet of the nice horsey that was so obviously the object of its desires.

The potential consequences for the child might have left all concerned feeling that winning and celebrating a racecourse victory was indeed a hollow experience.

I challenged the staff at the chute entrance. The excuses were lame and unconvincing. A child was placed at risk without any doubt. It is incumbent on the CEO of Leoparstown and racing authorities to explain this lapse and to clearly state to the racing public what the rules are and that they apply to all without fear or favour. - Yours etc.,

J BERMINGHAM

Waterford

Chasing mares

Sir - I would like to see more steeplechases confined to mares here. At present we don’t have half as many chases confined to mares compared to hurdle races. A bigger programme of mares only chases would incentivise more owners to run their better mares over fences.

Breeders are understandably concerned about the greater risks over fences to their better mares. An improved programme for chasing mares would help to compensate for these concerns. This is what they are bred to do after all.

I also believe it is time for the Cheltenham Festival to introduce a mares’ only chase to its schedule. The more options available to mares over fences, the more valuable fillies will become at the sales and the better for the National Hunt sector. – Yours etc.,

CATHAL ENNIS

Castletown-Geoghegan

Co Westmeath

Letters to the Editor should be addressed to The Editor, The Irish Field, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12. Name, address and telephone number must be included for verification. Letters are published at the Editor’s discretion and the Editor reserves the right to edit letters within reason.