MBE for Rachael Blackmore

JOCKEY Rachael Blackmore has been awarded an Honorary MBE by England’s King Charles for her services to sport. Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021 and she was also the first woman to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival that year. The Co Tipperary woman was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year in 2021.

Conyngham Lodge open morning

THE famed Conyngham Lodge stables on the Curragh, now shared by Tracey Collins and Michael Halford, will be open to the public next Saturday, July 1st, from 9.30am to 11.30am. The open morning is the latest in a series run by HRI Ownership and those interested in attending should register now at racehorseownership.ie

Breeder of Month winner

JOHN Hayes has won the Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder of the Month award for May. He bred Jannah Rose, winner of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp.

Contaminated feed case settled

GAIN Equine Nutrition has confirmed that all parties involved in Commercial Court proceedings related to equine feed contamination in 2020 have concluded a mediation process. The case related to a batch of horse feed supplied to racehorse trainers which contained traces of a prohibited substance. It led to Aidan O’Brien withdrawing all of his runners on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day in 2020. Head of Gain Equine Nutrition, Joanne Hurley, commented: “We are pleased to conclude this matter on amicable terms.

“The Gain Equine Nutrition team would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our customers in Ireland and internationally for their support since this issue arose in October 2020.”

Curragh seminar next Friday

PLACES are still available at next Friday’s flat breeding and racing seminar at the Curragh. Organised by ITBA and hosted by Sally Ann Grassick, the event starts at 2.30pm and will see panellists Kevin Blake, Stuart Boman, Ado McGuinness, Jason Morris and John Oxx discuss a range of topics. Admission is free for members of ITBA, AIRO and IRTA. Non-members can attend for a €15 fee which covers raceday admission. Registration in advance in essential. Email hmarks@itba.ie or call 045 877543.

Yulong to sponsor Pretty Polly Stakes

YULONG, the racing and breeding operation of Zhang Yuesheng, will sponsor the Group 1 €300,000 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh next Saturday. Mr Zhang’s bloodstock interests includes a large thoroughbred breeding operation in Victoria, Australia. He also owns Yulong Racecourse in the Shanxi province on mainland China and is currently developing a sales complex there with state-of-the-art stables and facilities.

In Ireland, he has enjoyed Group 1 success with Magical Lagoon and Lucky Vega, who stands at the Irish National Stud. A 2024 nomination to Lucky Vega will be given to the owners of the first three home in next Saturday’s feature race.

Paul Barber funeral on July 5th

THE funeral service for Paul Barber will be held at St Mary’s Church, Ditcheat, Somerset, on Wednesday, July 5th at 2pm.

Landlord to champion British jumps trainer Paul Nicholls, Barber passed away last Sunday morning, aged 80. Gold Cup winners See More Business and Denman carried his colours, and he was also involved in top-class horses such as Rock On Ruby and Clan Des Obeaux.

Barber was also known for his family’s dairy and cheese production business.

Ciaran Fennessy fined €5,000

CO Cork point-to-point handler Ciaran Fennessy has been fined €5,000 and ordered to pay costs of €2,500 following a postive test for a prohibited substance returned by his Boulta maiden winner Twoconduit on December 18th. The horse tested positive for lidocaine, a “pain blocker” which can be legitimately used by veterinary surgeons but is banned on racedays.

Jockeys win appeals

SEAMIE Heffernan and Jake Coen were both successful in appeals against recent suspensions. At the Curragh on June 7th, Heffernan picked up a five-day ban for failing to give his mount adequate time to respond to the whip. However, the Appeals Body found that he had used his whip to avoid interference occurring.

Coen received a two-day suspension at Leopardstown on June 8th for careless riding. The Appeals Body reviewed the incident and found they were unable to apportion blame to any rider in particular.