FOR those involved in thoroughbred breeding and racing, the year is dictated by foaling, covering, festivals, classics, and sales.

We live and breathe the annual cycle of the sport and its key moments provide punctuation to the story of our lives.

It’s amazing to think that 10 of these annual cycles have passed since the ITM Irish Stallion Trail first became part of our calendar back in 2014.

In that time the event has grown in popularity and impact with a record 37 stallion farms across the island set to open their doors this year, welcoming thousands of visitors from Ireland, Britain, and further afield.

In 2023, Irish-bred horses won Group 1 races in 10 countries on the flat and once again produced the Grade 1 goods at the Cheltenham, Punchestown, and Aintree Festivals.

These headline successes included the Oaks, Derby, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de Diane, Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, Irish Derby, Irish Oaks, Juddmonte International, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Cox Plate, multiple Breeders’ Cup races, Hong Kong Cup, Melbourne Cup, multiple Cheltenham Festival races, and the Grand National.

Many of these world-beaters were also sired in Ireland and a host of these proven sires will be on show during the Trail, alongside an exciting array of up-and-comers and new additions.

Such impressive international performance has helped Ireland maintain and enhance its status as a racing superpower and this was reflected in Irish sales results in 2023. Following a record annual public auction sales turnover of €215 million in 2022, Irish sales again surpassed themselves this year with a total turnover of €231 million.

Based on the latest figures from Horse Racing Ireland’s report on the Social and Economic Impact of Irish Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing, Irish thoroughbred breeding is estimated to contribute upwards of €800 million to the Irish economy each year, as part of racing’s overall economic impact of around €2.5 billion.

Ireland’s multi-billion thoroughbred industry is built on the hard work put in daily at Irish farms, where many of the 30,000 people working in Irish racing are employed.

This foundation is the bedrock of our small island’s remarkable global success, helping make racing Ireland’s most successful international sport. Join the Trail to see for yourself the wealth of talent we are blessed with and support this vital contributor to Ireland’s rural economy.

The ITM Irish Stallion Trail is a completely free event. Visitors are simply asked to register which studs they intend to visit, for information purposes, via the ITM website. Please note that registration is compulsory for Coolmore Stud.

Registrations allow studs to get an idea of the numbers they can expect. Visitors are then free to visit their chosen studs at the time of their choosing within the studs’ advertised opening hours. Visit the web address below to register and to view an up-to-date list of studs, stallions, and opening hours.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ITM IRISH STALLION TRAIL

Enquiries: stalliontrail@itm.ie