HORSE Racing Ireland’s Ownership department hosted a successful event in New York last week, where they welcomed approximately 80 racehorse owners to celebrate Irish racing at the Irish Consulate.

The reception was held on Thursday evening, ahead of Sunday’s Grand National meet at Far Hills. Gordon Elliott and Michael O’Callaghan were in attendance, alongside prominent US-based owners Eleanora Kennedy, Isaac Souede, Dean Reeves, Colm Morrissey, among others.

“The purpose of the event was to thank our existing East Coast-based US owners, to acknowledge their involvement, and to introduce Irish racing to new people,” HRI Ownership Manager Amber O’Grady explained.

“We had a really good turnout - 80 people, both flat and National Hunt, with interests in racing at any level. It was a good learning curve. We learned a lot about the market, about the people that are in New York, and maybe how we might do it differently the next time as well. You’ve got to get out there, bring the product to the people, I think people really appreciate that.”

HRI hosted a similar event last year, which saw two attendees later put horses in training in Ireland for the first time. Growing concerns for welfare and the increasing interest in turf racing in America has worked in Irish racing’s favour, Amber O’Grady reports.

“The flat owners are looking at it from an investment point of view, they’re looking to get European form into their horses,” she explains. “It’s 50% less training fees and the hores are probably sounder if they’ve had their two-year-old career in Ireland, and then they bring them back to the States.

“The best National Hunt trainers in the world are in Ireland. So, if you want to have a winner in the biggest races and the top festivals in England and Ireland, you know where to go.”