THE Northern Region of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be celebrating the achievements of the local breeding and racing industry at the Beechlawn House Hotel, Dunmurray on Friday, September 16th. This year there were 92 winners under National Hunt rules, including one at the Cheltenham Festival and a Grade 1 winner at the Aintree Festival; others won at Grade 2, Grade 3 and listed levels. In the Anglo/Irish Classifications 2015/2016, there were 11 northern-bred horses rated between 141 and 158.

Point-to-pointers bred in the region won 39 individual races. While one individual bred four horses who won, two others both bred a horse to win five times. Many of these youngsters were sold on and have been very successful on the National Hunt circuit, proving the ability of local breeders to produce top-class horses.