Owners and Trainers Guide

Longines Irish Champions Weekend is one of the leading international racing festivals. Now in its ninth year, this special event is run over two days at two of Ireland’s leading racecourses, the newly redeveloped Leopardstown, and The Curragh. Featuring prize money of €4.5 million, the year’s renewal boasts a strong programme, including six Group 1 races and the final Classic of the Irish Flat season.

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Leopardstown Track Information

We offer National Hunt meetings during December, February and March. The flat track is preserved through these fixtures and not raced until we commence our flat season in April , racing each month until October. Throughout the year the highest level of attention is given to the racing surface to provide the best surface possible at all times. We have invested in a new top of the range watering system to help maintain the track during the flat season. For the National Hunt season there are seven hurdles and ten chase fences on the circuit to test the skills of the best horses in Ireland and the UK. The track is a left-handed oval of 1m 6f with a 2 ¾ f uphill finish. We offer flat racing over a variety of distances, our shortest distance is 6f while our longest distance is 1m 7f.

Going Reports

From entry stage up to the day of racing we supply regular going reports. These are updated live by IHRB team onto the HRI RÁS website and on our website, or via the regular updates on our Leopardstown Racecourse Twitter pages. You are also welcome call our Racing Operations Manager Jane Hedley on +353 (0) 86 107 8329 for further information.

View Going Reports

Galloping and Schooling

We welcome Gallopers and Schoolers at Leopardstown, by appointment, as and when conditions allow. For further information please contact our Racing Operations Manager Jane Hedley at [email protected] / 086 1078329

Entrace Badge Allocation

Sole Owners & Partnerships

Sole Owners and Partnerships are entitled to collect 4 owners badges per runner, plus complimentary race cards and complimentary meal vouchers. These will grant you access to the Leopardstown Lounge and Parade Ring. To collect these owners badges, please ensure you present each of your AIR cards at the AIR gate on the day of racing to collect your badges. (On registration as a sole owner/ partnership you will have received 4 AIR cards, each of these is required to be presented at the AIR card on a race day if you require all 4 owners badges).

Entrance Badge Allocation

Syndicates & Racing Clubs

To ensure that all members of your racing syndicate or club have the best possible experience at Leopardstown all members of your Club or Syndicate receive general admission badges and parade ring only passes. These general admission tickets can be arranged in advance of the day through Aidan McGarry of Horseracing Irelands Ownership Department ( https://www.racehorseownership.ie/tickets/ ) Parade ring only passes can be collected on the race day from AIR gates on a race day or in the ticket village which is open on bigger race day (Irish Champions Weekend, Leopardstown Christmas Festival and Dublin Racing Festival).

Entrance Badge Allocation

Trainers

Trainers will be entitled to 2 complimentary badges, race cards and meal vouchers. Please present your IRTA badge at the AIR gate to gain admission and collect your lunch vouchers & race cards. International visiting trainers, to ensure that you receive the necessary badges and to arrange any transportation please contact the Leopardstown office prior to your arrival or email [email protected]

Additional Badges

Leopardstown also provides additional admissions for owners with runners, provided they are requested in advance of the meeting. Once race entries have closed, each racehorse owner with an entry will receive an email advising of ticket entitlements. To request additional tickets please complete the request form through Horseracing Irelands Ownership Department which can be found here (https://www.racehorseownership.ie/tickets/) please complete the form before 3pm on the afternoon prior to racing. If you require any further additional general admission tickets in addition to the above, these can be purchased at 50% of gate price. Please ensure these requests are made before 3pm on the afternoon prior to racing and must be paid for in advance, please contact the Leopardstown Office 353 (0) 1 289 0500 for further information and payment. If you have a declared runner but are not attending the race meeting and would like to leave your badges for your guests, these must be pre booked by 3pm on the afternoon prior to racing. For Sunday racing all requests must be made before 3pm on the Friday prior to racing. Please contact Aidan McGarry of Horseracing Irelands Ownership Department https://www.racehorseownership.ie/tickets/) to request this change.

Owners and trainers facility

Our exclusive ‘Leopardstown Lounge’ owners and trainers facility is located on the second floor of the Grandstand. Owners and trainers with runners on the day can enjoy a complimentary two course lunch with tea or coffee on provision of lunch vouchers provided at the AIR gate on arrival. In the Leopardstown Lounge tables are reserved for one hour sittings, to ensure that all owners are accommodated throughout the day. Reservations are not necessary, but can be accommodated by emailing [email protected] bookings must be made no later than 5pm the evening before racing. The Leopardstown Lounge also features a full bar with easy access to the grandstand, parade ring and pre parade ring. Numerous TV’s in the Leopardstown Lounge show the live sporting action from Ireland and abroad an there is great viewing from the balcony patio over the parade ring.

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Car Parking, Disabled Access and Public Transport

Owners & Trainers Car Park - we have a reserved Owners and Trainers car park for those with a horse running on the day. Please follow signs for Owners & Trainers Car Park and a car parking attendance will direct you to the nearest available space. No Car sticker is required. Disabled Parking - we have a reserved disabled car park situated at our main turnstiles entrance. Please display your disabled car badge and an attendant will direct you to the nearest available space. We also have golf buggies available to take you to the main entrance if required, please notify a car parking attendant when you park. Helicopter Access - if you are arriving to the course by helicopter please inform the racecourse at least 24hrs prior to the race day to arrange insurance documents etc. Please contact a member of the Operations Department to ensure helicopter access if authorised in advance of the day, the operations department can be contacted on +353 (0) 1 289 0500. Public Transport - if you are planning to attend the races by public transport, the Sandyford LUAS stop is the closest to Leopardstown Racecourse and is on the Green Line, we have a FREE shuttle bus for all customers running at regular intervals between Sandyford Luas stop and the racecourse. International Owners & Trainers - if you are visiting Leopardstown from further afield please notify the Operations Department in advance of your trip and we can arrange complimentary transport or a refund on your taxi fee to the racecourse. The operations department can be contacted on +353 (0) 1 289 0500.

Racecourse stables and equine care

Horses travelling from overseas have use of our secure overnight stables. While your horse is here the best equine care is available, from farriers to vets, to ensure the highest welfare standards are met. We are very proud of our equine care facilities and are happy to do anything we can to improve your horse's stay. Please view our stabling facilities video below and get in touch directly if you have any queries at +353 01 289 0500 or email [email protected] For grooms traveling from overseas to Leopardstown, we will arrange complimentary accommodation for all travelling stable staff, we will also arrange a car or provide transfers to and from the hotel when required. The cost of all the accommodation and transfers are covered by the racecourse.

Stable Staff

All stable staff attending Leopardstown have the use of the Stable Staff canteen located in the racecourse stables and run by Coles Catering. The stable staff canteen is open every race day 3 hours before the first race time and provides a range of hot and cold meals along with sandwiches, cakes and snacks. There is also a full selection of hot and cold drinks. At Leopardstown we provide each member of stable staff attending the races a complimentary hot meal which can be redeemed in the stable staff canteen. For grooms traveling from overseas to Leopardstown, we will arrange complimentary accommodation for all travelling stable staff, we will also arrange a car or provide transfers to and from the hotel when required. The cost of all the accommodation and transfers are covered by the racecourse.

Best Turned Out Prizes

Supporting stable staff employed by racehorse trainers is one of Leopardstowns core values. There are over 3,000 stable staff employed by trainers in Ireland. With over 8,500 horses registered in training and 29,000 runners at racecourses throughout the year. Each horse requires an substantial amount of care on a day to day basis, stable staff show their dedication to their job by working long and unsociable hours – all for the love of their horses. As a recognition of this, Leopardstown provides over €16,000 annually in Best Turned Out Prizes for every race during the year. A minimum of €100 per race is provided to what is regarded to be the best turned out horse in the race and presented to the groom in parade ring as acknowledgement for the time and care they have taken in turning out their horse at the races.

Winning connections suite

Winning owners are always invited to celebrate in our dedicated winning connections suite after the race to watch the race replay and enjoy a glass of champagne. We also provide a complimentary copy of the race replay and a silver framed photo of your winner accompanied by a letter from our CEO Tim Husbands. “A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart and wins with his character” Frederico Tesio