Murtaghs yard on curragh trail for champions weekend

Meath native jockey-turned-trainer, Johnny Murtagh, is one of those taking part in the The Curragh Thoroughbred Trail, which was launched at the yard of Curragh trainer John Oxx. It will be one of the highlights of this weekend's Irish Champions Weekend, taking place during the morning before racing on Sunday 14th September, and will  give racegoers a behind-the-scenes look into the operations of some of the world’s most famous trainers and stud farms.

Murtagh, Dessie Hughes, Michael Halford, Oxx and Paul Deegan are some of the leading trainers taking part, while the world-famous Irish National Stud, Kildangan Stud and the Racing Academy and Centre for Education (RACE) are among other locations on the eight trails.

The public will have the unique opportunity to meet the trainers and staff as well as some well-known equine heroes at work in their yards and studs or out on the famous Curragh gallops.

Paul Hensey, general manager of the Curragh Racecourse, said: “The Curragh Thoroughbred Trail is an important part of Irish Champions Weekend and the response to-date has been terrific. People are eager to get an exclusive look at what goes on at some of the top training yards and studs on the Curragh. The combined Sunday racing and trail ticket is exceptional value at €25 and with limited places on the trails, we’re confident it’s going to sell out.”

Registration opens at 8.30am in the main entrance of the racecourse and the Trails start at 9.30am sharp, finishing at approximately 12noon, with the first race at the Curragh off at 2.05pm.

Irish Champions Weekend features the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger back-to-back on September 13th and 14th at Leopardstown and the Curragh respectively.