Brian Kavanagh

Brian Kavanagh has said that he agrees completely with Johnny Murtagh's assertion that Ireland should not be "resting on its laurels" when it comes to prize-money while Irish Racehorse Trainers Association [IRTA] chief Ryan McElligott expressed a wish that the Curragh boss's decision to up the minimum prize fund at the track to €20,000 could stir up similar change among other racecourses.  Leopardstown, Ireland's only other Group 1 Flat track, has followed the Curragh's lead in raising its basement prize-money levels to €15,000. However, leading trainers Joseph O'Brien and Ado...

The Goffs Million, the richest 2-year-old race in Europe, will be rebranded as the Goffs Two Million Series at the 2023 Goffs Orby Sale, the sales company announced on Friday. In addition, the Orby and Sportsman's Sales will now be known as Orby Book 1 and Orby Book 2 and will be held from Sept. 26-29. The series is open to all yearlings catalogued in the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 and Book 2, and more than 1,000 yearlings will be offered across the two books. The 2023 seven-furlong Goffs...

Tattersalls will continue sponsoring the Irish Guineas Festival and the three associated Group 1 races, the Curragh Racecourse announced on Tuesday. The sponsorship, which was extended an additional three years from 2023-2025, sees the €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup-with increased prize-money of €450,000--set to be contested at the Curragh during the three-day festival from May 26-28, 2023. Edmond Mahony, Chairman Tattersalls, said, "The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival is one of the premier fixtures not only of the Irish...

Juddmonte and Keeneland have renewed their sponsorships of the Curragh's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Phoenix S., respectively. The feature race of the two-day Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend on Saturday, July 22, the Juddmonte Irish Oaks has been won three times by horses carrying the Juddmonte colours with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (2017), Bolas (GB) (Unfuwain) (1994) and Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave) in 1993. Currently there are 87 first entries for the €500,000 summer Classic, including Juddmonte's debut winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Juddmonte started as the sponsor of...

The Coast to Curragh charity cycle will be run for a second year in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland on Saturday, August 27, where the legendary Pat Smullen will be remembered on the day. The Curragh have dedicated the August 27 fixture to the nine-time Irish champion jockey and the racecourse chief Brian Kavanagh revealed that he hopes to grow the event. The Coast to Curragh Cycle, which raised more than €185,000 last year, starts at Laytown Racecourse at 8am taking in seven racecourses and two stud farms in total,...

All Pattern and listed races staged in Europe in 2021 were reviewed by the European Pattern Committee (EPC) at their annual meeting, which was held virtually on Friday, Jan. 21. The EPC sanctioned 851 black-type races (854 in 2021) to be held in Europe in 2022, of which, 425 were group races (427 in 2021) and 426 listed races (427 in 2021), a reduction of three on 2021. Besides upgrading and downgraded races, the EPC also appointed Jason Morris, the Director of Racing at Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to replace...

Former Chief Executive of the Irish Turf Club Cahir O'Sullivan passed away peacefully at his residence in Newbridge, Co. Kildare Tuesday. He was 86. O'Sullivan was head of Irish racing's regulatory body-or Keeper of the Match Book, as the post was then known as--from 1976 to 1999, he became a member of the Turf Club in 2000 and two years later was also appointed a member of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee. Managing director of a small manufacturing firm in Co. Limerick prior to joining the Irish Horseracing Regulatory...

Speaking before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee at the latest of a series of hearings prompted by trainer Jim Bolger's claim that there would be "a Lance Armstrong" in Irish racing, Irish Racehorse Trainers Association Chief Executive Michael Grassick said he has never been "approached or given information that there were illegal substances being used on horses in training." "In my previous life, before I took over the position as CEO of the trainers' association, I was a trainer for 35 years myself and never in my time as a trainer...

Following Irish trainer Jim Bolger voicing his concerns on doping in Irish racing this past weekend, a strong statement against doping was issued by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday evening. The statement read: "Following comments made recently, the IHRB can once again stress there is a zero-tolerance approach to doping in Irish racing and we operate to the highest level using LGC Laboratories in Newmarket, who are one of five International Federation Horseracing Authorities certified laboratories in the world, and the same laboratory used by the British Horseracing...

Brian Kavanagh, whose 20-year tenure as chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland comes to an end upon the conclusion of his latest term in September, will in November take up the role of chief executive officer of The Curragh. Kavanagh takes over from Pat Keogh, who has been in the role since July of 2019. Padraig McManus, chairman of the board of The Curragh, said, "The board are looking forward to welcoming Brian into his new role as CEO of The Curragh Racecourse and training grounds, and look forward...

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby meeting on June 26 is expected to be the first racing fixture in the country to welcome up to 1,000 fans, the Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed Friday evening. Horse owners are expected to be allowed on course beginning June 7. The Irish Field was first to report the news. "We expect to be in a position to welcome owners back on track with effect from June 7," HRI Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh told the publication. "This would be a brilliant outcome as owners have...

RTE Sport and Horse Racing Ireland have agreed to a three-year broadcasting deal that will deliver a record 31 free-to-air live racing days in Ireland. The live racing broadcast days will rise to 32 in 2022 and 2023. Declan McBennett, group head of sport at RTE, said, "Horse racing is an integral part of the RTE Sport offering, and we are delighted to extend our partnership with Horse Racing Ireland and the racecourses. The trainers and jockeys in particular have proven repeatedly that they are at the very forefront of...