Down Royal Racecourse has confirmed it is increasing its investment in the upcoming November Festival to bring the richest National Hunt race to Northern Ireland.
The announcement was confirmed by CEO Emma Meehan at the recent Ladbrokes Festival of Racing launch event, hosted in the prestigious surroundings of Hillsborough Castle and attended by horse racing industry stalwarts, sponsors, supporters of Down Royal and media.
With the Ladbrokes trophy are Emma Meehan, Chief Executive of Down Royal Racecourse and jockeys Keith Donoghue and Sean Flanagan
The long-established two-day Festival – staged on 1st and 2nd November – is the highlight of the racing calendar at Down Royal and has an exceptional role of honour including great chasers such as Kauto Star, Beef or Salmon, The Listener, Looks Like Trouble, Florida Pearl and Don Cossack.
The recent announcement of a new six figure deal to secure sponsorship of the November Festival, sees Ladbrokes join the growing stable of sponsors at Down Royal.
With a total prize fund over the two days of €460,000, Friday 1st November will see the richest hurdle race in Northern Ireland take place – The WKD Hurdle – while the Ladbrokes Grade 1 Champion Chase will run on Saturday 2nd.
Emma Meehan, Chief Executive of Down Royal Racecourse addressed guests at the event saying:
“The most prestigious of our race meetings, the Ladbrokes November Festival is set to be the biggest yet and we are thrilled to now have the richest prize fund ever for a National Hunt race in Northern Ireland. With attendance at Down Royal up twelve percent year-on-year we are anticipating a crowd of over 10,000 over the two days, and with the venue and the track both in tip top condition, it promises to be a superb day out for all.”
