EVERY racing fan knows that steeplechasing started with a two-horse race in 1752 which stretched from the church in Buttevant to Doneraile.

Locals in Doneraile are fundraising to erect a monument to mark this piece of history and will stage a road race (for human athletes!) on Saturday, August 30th.

There will be races over 5km and 10km and we understand there will be no jumps!

To register go to Eventmaster.ie and search for ‘Doneraile’. It’s €25 to take part. The races will start at the local GAA pitch and end at Doneraile church.

Nobody is sure who won the first steeplechase between Edmund Blake and Cornelius O’Callaghan but there won’t be any disputes over the road race result as the event has Athletics Ireland approval.