IFA to Sponsor Breeder’s Prize for the Grand Prix at the RDS Dublin Horse Show

IFA Horse Project Team Chair Conor O’Leary has announced that IFA will again sponsor a breeder’s prize for the top-placed, Irish-bred horse in the Grand Prix at the RDS Dublin Horse Show, Ireland’s sole Five Star event.

The initiative was launched last year with the aim of highlighting the importance of breeders and giving them some recognition.

Ahead of the opening day of this year’s Horse Show, Conor O’Leary said breeders need support and encouragement more than ever. Sport horse breeders are in every parish in the country, and it is only fair that they receive some of the credit for their role.

“Recognition for the breeder is a glaring omission from the prize fund distribution model in sport horse competitions. There is almost no financial acknowledgement for breeders. IFA is campaigning for a proportion of all prize funds in racing and sport horse events to be directed to the breeder, which is highlighted in our pre-Budget submission.”

Last year’s winner of the prize was Wexford breeder Denis Hickey, breeder of GRS Lady Amaro (Amaretto D’Acro x Over The River) who finished second in the Grand Prix.

€1,000 will be awarded to the breeder of the highest-placed, Irish-bred horse, provided that horse places in the top ten of Sunday’s Grand Prix and has its sire/dam/breeder officially recorded.

The prize will be presented to the winning breeder the week after the RDS Dublin Horse Show.