LAST week, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing was announced as an official partner to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

As part of the agreement, ITM will be granted signage, branding and digital promotional opportunities at this year’s event.

Further to the agreement, ITM will have presenting rights to the Horsemen’s Enclosure, a private lounge adjacent to the walking ring where horsemen and dignitaries from around the world gather before the World Championships races.

ITM chief executive Charles O’Neill said: “Irish-bred, Irish-owned and Irish-trained horses have had a long and very successful involvement in the Breeders’ Cup, one of the greatest racing festivals in the world.

“This partnership between Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and the Breeders’ Cup will give ITM a unique opportunity to thank the many international owners and trainers who have supported the Irish thoroughbred industry for so long and with so much success, and enable us to promote our industry to a worldwide, captive audience.”

Irish-trained horses have made a total of 275 starts in the Breeders’ Cup, which has resulted in winners, the most of any nation outside the United States.