WITH just over three weeks to the start of the 2024 flat season, the Curragh has announced a boost to its race programme with an enhanced minimum prize fund of €20,000 for each of its races this year.

This uplift includes races in the bottom grades, which typically have a bare value of €10,000 as set out by Horse Racing Ireland. Prize money increases have also been revealed for the Tattersalls Gold Cup (now worth €500,000, from €450,000) and Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (also up €50,000 to €350,000).

The 2024 flat campaign gets underway on March 18th at the Curragh with the €100,000 Irish Lincolnshire, which has a new sponsor this year.

“We’re really excited about the season ahead,” Curragh chief executive Brian Kavanagh told The Irish Field.

“We’ve got an extra meeting this year, coming to 24 fixtures, and we’ve tried to drive up our prize money as best as we can. We’re aiming to have 100% of races sponsored again this year, as was the case in 2023, and there should be some extra World Pool races, which helps from a financial point of view.

“We’re aiming to run a minimum race value of €20,000 per race here during the season. We’ll supplement HRI’s base values with the Curragh’s funds, and with sponsorship.

“There are other incentives during the year too with EBF races and so on too, so it’s an exciting programme for 2024. Nua Healthcare, a local business, are coming in to sponsor the Lincoln too.”

Spread of success

On no race being worth less than €20,000 at the Curragh in 2024, Kavanagh added: “We’d like to develop this further along with a strong blacktype programme. One thing that was very noticeable here last year was how many smaller yards had big successes at the Curragh, including in premier handicaps.

“There were 62 individual trainers who had winners here in 2023, and 20 of those enjoyed stakes winners. While Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore dominated the numbers, there was a very good spread, as well nine winners from 56 overseas runners. You’re trying to develop the level of competition and we feel prize money is really important across the whole programme.”

Incentives to attract locals to come racing at the Curragh will continue into 2024, with the track having teamed up with nearby GAA teams and businesses for several meetings over the past year.

Kavanagh said: “We have a big link-up with the St Patrick’s Day parade and committee involved in that in Newbridge on the Sunday, followed by our race meeting on the Monday. We’re trying to make something of that weekend.

“We want to open the door to the local community and the quality of racing is always good here. We’re eager to push our prize money so people have an incentive to race here.”