Horse Racing

Gaisce Raceday – Doing Good At Leopardstown

Leopardstown Racecourse invites you to join in some family friendly fun on Gaisce Raceday, promising entertainment for everyone – including the Flat vs. National Hunt Jockeys’ Challenge – and best of all, it’s for a good cause.

Sunday May 30th will see Leopardstown Racecourse hosting what has become known as Ireland’s biggest Youth Raceday. Gaisce Raceday, which serves to support the ‘Gaisce-The President’s Award’ program (Ireland’s National Challenge Award for young people aged 15 to 25). As this year marks the awards 25th anniversary, organisers at Leopardstown are doing their best to make it a special occasion for everyone involved.

A generous percentage of takings from the door will be donated to Gaisce, who will also receive all the proceeds from an innovative fundraiser to be staged at Leopardstown.
Donors to the Gaisce project are invited to purchase gold or silver feathers to be mounted on a large fibreglass angel designed by Lar Griffin, which will be signed with the donor’s name and mounted on the sculpture.

And – naturally – there will be some excellent racing action to keep the masses entertained. Gaisce Raceday features seven races; two of which serve to fight out the much anticipated Flat vs. National Hunt Jockeys’ Challenge. The National Hunt jockeys’ team, headed by Ruby Walsh, is comprised of Barry Geraghty, Andrew McNamara, Davy Condon, Paul Carberry, Davy Russel , Robert Power, Niall Madden and Andrew Lynch, will be facing off to their flat racing colleagues.
The Flat Jockeys’ team is made up of Kevin Manning, Wayne Lordan, Pat Smullen, Fran Berry, Gary Carroll, Chris Hayes and Declan McDonogh, and will be lead into battle by Johnny Murtagh. The teams will compete in two events, and while the competition is in the spirits of good fun and a good cause there is just enough rivalry between the two camps to guarantee a couple of veracious races.

Gaisce Raceday also features an exhibition of Ireland’s racing and breeding industry, a number of live bands including The Champters and Von Shakes, a performance from the Hallelluia Gospel Choir and much more. Designed specifically as a day out for families and young people, Gaisce Raceday at Leopardstown is a great event to occupy your Sunday – be it with a group of friends or the family.

Admission is free for children under the age of fourteen.