LANDED on my desk this week was a most attractive brochure from Down Royal. It was promoting their Summer Festival of Racing on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd of June. While some will be at Royal Ascot on those days, for others this will be Ireland’s equivalent when it comes to style.

The Festival will be the summer sport’s highlight for many as the racecourse hosts a weekend of racing, socialising and networking. Friday’s meeting sees an afternoon start, with the last race at 9pm. Saturday’s programme of races features the Magners Ulster Derby of €100,000, which will be followed by the €40,000 EBF Coolmore Stud Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap. All the leading stables in Ireland will be targeting these valuable pots.

Last year’s Derby winner was Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin-owned Clongowes, trained by Jim Bolger.

Apart from a selection of private suites in which to entertain, the best place to be at the races on that Saturday is in what Mike Todd, the racecourse manager, calls “without doubt the jewel in the crown of Down Royal’s hospitality”, the Guinness Suite. It offers views overlooking the finishing straight, and it is also the venue for the live entertainment after racing ends.

The cost is £120 plus VAT per person for royal treatment, and while tables of 12 are available many smaller groups or even couples join together in a convivial atmosphere to enjoy superb food and good company. To whet your appetite, this year’s fare includes Ewing’s smoked salmon, fillet of beef, an Eton Mess and cheeses.

A four-night, four-star trip to Reykjavik with a host of embellishments is on offer for the winner of the Magners’ Best Dressed Lady competition. This hugely popular competition certainly brings out the best of style, while racegoers can make it a weekend to remember with an overnight stay in the Europa Hotel in Belfast for only £75 per person – and that gets you into the races also!

At last year’s Horse Racing Ireland Awards the accolade of Racecourse of the Year went to Down Royal. The course uses the logo ‘Drumming to our own beat’ and it certainly does that.

FAIRYHOUSE

Fairyhouse racecourse this week announced a new sponsorship deal with Toals.com Bookmakers who will be sponsoring two races on each of the four summer flat cards at the Co Meath track. This was further good news for the racecourse which on Monday night was chosen for an award at the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

In addition, the racecourse’s Gillian Carey was honoured on the night.

Gary Toal of Toals.com Bookmakers is happy to support racing. He said: “Irish racing is a world leader and Toals are delighted to support the industry at one of our flagship tracks. As we are now into a busy schedule of major racing festivals we will continue to reward our customers with great value specials and bonuses either in branch or online at Toals.com.”

Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe is pleased with the partnership, saying: “We are delighted to have Toals.com coming on board as sponsors at Fairyhouse, sponsoring eight races over the course of our summer flat season. We have four competitive cards building up to our flat feature race, the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes. It has been won previously by Group 1 winning fillies Fiesolana and Emulous and in 2017 was won by the Roger Varian trained Realtra.

“We have plenty to look forward to for our flat season starting with our first fixture next Thursday, May 31st, coinciding with the Tattersalls International Horse Trials.”