Our Stables
It is easy to forget that when a horse lines up at a starting tape or enters the stalls for a race, so much time, work, and preparation by many people has been involved in getting it there. From the day of a foal’s birth and those first faltering, unsure steps, so much takes place to keep it healthy, educate it and have it ready for the sales, even before the actual training for racing begins. Everyone is living the dream – will this be a superstar? Will it win one race? Will it even get to the track?
Before you go to the races for a great day out, our horse stable tour will bring you up close and personal with the stars of the show, the horses! Let the horses capture your heart and mind by getting a unique insight into their daily lives.
Each tour will stop off at either a racing yard or a breeding farm, depending on availability for the specific date, and so provide you with a unique experience at one of the following:JESSICA HARRINGTON
Throughout the last decade, Jessica Harrington has become firmly established as one of the top duel purpose trainers in the world, culminating with her glorious victory of her Sizing John in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and with the best 3 year-old filly in the world in 2018, Alpha Centauri.
Training is not the first discipline in which Jessica has excelled. Prior to taking out a training permit in 1989 she was renowned as one of the country’s top three day event riders having represented Ireland with credit at European, World and Olympic level.
In the early nineties Jessica swopped a permit for a full training license, and high profile results soon followed. Jessica is now associated with some of the great Irish national hunt horses of recent years, from the legendary Moscow Flyer, to recent champion hurdler, Jezki, and now, Gold Cup winner Sizing John. Top flat horses have also resided in Jessica’s Moone, Co. Kildare stable, including high-class fillies Bocca Baciata and Alpha Centauri.
For more information, see www.jessicaharringtonracing.comMICHAEL HALFORD
Michael Halford is one of Ireland’s top flat trainers, having finished in the top 5 in the Flat Trainers championship in each of the past 4 years. As well as great success at home, Michael has also experienced international success, including in the UK (2016 included success at Royal Ascot) and at the Dubai Carnival, and his owners include His Highness The Aga Khan, and Sheikh Mohammed.
Training since 1985, Michael has been operating at his Copper Beech stables for the past decade, during which the winners have steadily increased, as has the calibre of horses within his care. The purpose built yard at Doneaney, just outside Kildare, offers owners world class facilities for their horses.
For more information, please visit www.michaelhalford.comMICHAEL GRASSICK
Racing is a proud tradition of the Grassick family. The mantle has been handed down from Christy Grassick to Michael Grassick Snr., and now, to Michael Grassick Jnr. The family has trained many top horses to win big races, and Michael aims to keep that tradition going. Michael has been assistant to his father for many years, and has also gained experience abroad with Lee Freedman in Melbourne, Australia.
Michael trains his string at Fenpark Stables, built in 1990 and based very near to the Curragh, and it has been home to many wonderful racehorses. This excellent yard with great facilities will, no doubt, continue to produce more wonderful racehorses under Michael’s guidance.
For more information, please visit www.michaelcgrassick.comADO MCGUINNESS
Ado McGuinness took out his horse racing licence in early 2000 having spent time showjumping. Ado soon showed great skill in managing to keep his horses running consistently well for a long period of time and his ability to place his charges to great effect has been a feature of his training career. Based in Rush, Co. Dublin, Ado has access to top class facilities including the north beach in Rush, which he uses on a daily basis.
For more information, please visit www.adomcguinness.com THE IRISH NATIONAL STUD
The ambition of the Irish National Stud is for every visitor to glimpse the spirit of the thoroughbred business. They want visitors to understand how horses capture hearts and hold them in a lifelong embrace.
Your visit will definitely give you this understanding as to what is so great and wonderful about the thoroughbred, including a viewing of the stallions standing at the stud, and meeting mares and foals in their paddocks.
For more information, see www.irishnationalstud.ie