NOW in its 13th year, the recent Barclay Communications race evening at Down Royal launched the track’s summer season and also raised over £5,000 for the Jonjo Bright Trust.

The meeting attracted local celebrities such as Ulster and Ireland rugby star, Rory Best, while the Barclay Communications exclusive suite hosted a VIP evening of dinner, racing and entertainment for their partners in O2, Data Select and Box, and over 500 top Northern Ireland business people.

As the evening didn’t clash with major equestrian events, the Megahey family were out in force and in style. Last weekend, Chris and Harold were back competing, the former at the Mullingar international horse show while Harold was at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials.

Next weekend, the two-day Summer Festival of Racing takes place at Down Royal with an all-National Hunt card on Friday evening which features the Galway Plate Trial, a handicap chase over two and a half miles. Saturday sees the 80th running of the Ulster Derby, sponsored by Magners and with a prize fund of €100,000, while the all-Flat card also features the EBF Coolmore Stud Ulster Oaks.