The racing set were out in force on Tuesday night as Horse Racing Ireland & Leopardstown racecourse held a reception to launch the largest racing festival of the winter season - The Leopardstown Christmas Festival. This year is shaping up to be bigger and better then ever and judging by the large crowd at the launch, people are gearing up for the event already.
Amongst the horse loving crowd were Eamon Dunphy who made a heart warming speech on how proud he is to be Irish and how our trainers and jockeys are the best in the world. National Hunt jockey’s Davy Russell, Paul Carberry and Grand National winner Robert Power were there along with trainer Tony Martin, HRI Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh, Paddy Power, Lexus Ireland’s Mark Teevan, Clio O’Gara of Bewleys Hotels and HRI’s Michael O’Rourke all enjoyed the Christmas songs that were performed by Owen Brady on the night.
Regular Ladies Day attendee Faith Almond looked fabulous in a Moschino coat and was chatting to Horse Racing Irelands own Tamso Doyle (who was wearing this seasons black – a Jenny Packham dress) about what she will wear at the The Lexus Chase, on December 28th. The prize value on the day is €15,000, making it the richest Ladies Day prize in winter racing. The ‘Best Dressed Lady’ will win luxury Lexus chauffeur transfers to the five-star Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt, where they will stay in the ultra-exclusive Presidential Suite for two nights, enjoying dinner for two at Gordon Ramsay, luxury ESPA Pampering, plus a €2,000 voucher for Brown Thomas - worth fighting for, I think you'll agree.
Others eager to find out more about the Ladies Day prize were socialites Nadine-Wai O’Flynn, Sandra Byrne, Emily O’Donell and jewellery designer Rebecca Davis who came along with her sister Emma. Liam Durkan came with his brother Neil and father Bill. The Durkans will be sponsoring the opening day of the festival and the feature race the Grade 1 Durkan New homes Novice Chase with a prize fund of €324,000.
Horse Racing Ireland Fashion Ambassador Kathryn Thomas looked stunning after just stepping off a flight, having been travelling in Asia and Australia for 5 weeks, she was chatting to author Marisa Mackle and actress Rachel Kavanagh. At the launch Tom Burke, Manager of Leopardstown Racecourse, said “The National Hunt Festival at Leopardstown is the highlight of the Christmas calendar and we expect attendance to exceed last years record numbers. The overall prize-money of €1.3 million will attract the best horses providing top class racing to entertain the crowd.”
Go racing!
