NEXT Saturday and Sunday, Leopardstown and the Curragh stage two of the biggest days of the Irish flat racing season, with five Group 1 contests taking place over the two days, as part of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend. As chief executive of the Foxrock track, I am particularly proud to be associated with such a unique venture which allows Irish racegoers the opportunity to witness some of the world’s best racehorses at first hand.

I have a long association with Leopardstown, having first attended as a young child with my father. I am a firm believer in getting children interested in sports at an early age and in my case, that initial exposure to racing has stayed with me throughout my adult years.