Tim Husbands

Vicki Donlon has been appointed interim CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced on Thursday. Donlon rejoins the team at Leopardstown with immediate effect as the process continues to find a permanent replacement for Tim Husbands, who steps down this week after five years in the role. Having joined HRI when appointed commercial & marketing manager at Leopardstown in 2015, Donlon has led the commercial brief for HRI's Racecourse Division for the last four years, working with Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, Navan and Tipperary. Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses,...

Tim Husbands is to leave his position as CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse in April 2025 after five years in the role. Husbands joined Leopardstown as CEO in January 2020, having previously worked as CEO of the Titanic Experience in Belfast. On his departure, Husbands commented, "It was a real privilege for me to lead Leopardstown Racecourse over the last five years and I have been very proud of our achievements during that time-it is very much a team effort at the racecourse. I have had brilliant support both from my...

Al Shira'aa Racing have been announced as the new sponsors of the race previously known as the Cornelscourt S., won in 2023 by the classy Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}). The G3 Al Shira'aa Racing 'Mutamakina' S., run over a mile for three-year-old fillies, will be held at Leopardstown Racecourse on Sunday, May 12. The race will be named after Al Shira'aa's high-class racemare Mutamakina (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). A Listed winner and Group 2-placed when trained in France by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Mutamakina later moved across the Atlantic to Christophe Clement for...

Leopardstown Racecourse appointed Jane Hedley as its new Racing and Operations Manager, a position she will take up during the forthcoming National Hunt season and Dublin Racing Festival. A former marketing and nominations executive for Shadwell and yard manager at Mark Johnston Racing for six years, she also served as Clerk of the Course Warwick, Nottingham and Market Rasen racecourses, in addition to positions at Jockey Club Racecourses, including Newmarket, Cheltenham and Aintree. More recently, Hedley was interim general manager at Nottingham. "Jane is hugely experienced, passionate, highly knowledgeable and...

Coolmore has extended their support of the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown during Irish Champions Weekend, Leopardstown announced on Monday. The race, which has twice been voted the highest-rated race for fillies and mares by the Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, will be officially known as the G1 Coolmore America Justify Matron S. Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky stands two Triple Crown winners, American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy). The 2019 edition of the Matron was landed by Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}). "Coolmore are delighted...