Dundalk

Four additional Dundalk fixtures have been added for early 2021 to cope with the recent high number of entries at the track and the significant number of horses that have been balloted out of races at Dundalk's last three meetings. The additional meetings will take place on Jan. 11 (afternoon), Jan. 20 (evening), Feb. 1 (afternoon) and Feb. 17 (afternoon). Jason Morris, HRI director of racing, said, "We have had representations from the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, the Restricted Trainers Association and the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, all of...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Insights features a half-brother to Garswood (GB). 12.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 8fT Coolmore and Westerberg's FRILL (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and one of three representing Aidan O'Brien in this debut. The 900,000gns...

Nine-time Irish Champion Jockey, Pat Smullen, who lost his battle with cancer last month, will be honored at Dundalk Stadium with the inaugural running of the five-furlong G3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Pat Smullen Mercury S. Oct. 16. The €50,000 event is sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld, a UAE distributor of horse feeds and supplements. Smullen held a long association with the brand as well as a long-standing friendship with the brand's founder, Malih Al Basti. "Pat was a terrific horseman and a great friend, said Al Basti. "I hope...

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, with the support of the Irish European Breeders' Fund and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, will resume Barrier Trials for unraced 2- and 3-year-olds at Dundalk Stadium July 29. The Irish EBF Barrier Trials will operate under the same COVID-19 protocols in use on regular race days. Entries, which opened July 15, will close July 24. Terms & Conditions are listed at www.itm.ie. A later date for the Irish EBF Barrier Trials is scheduled for Aug. 24, pending approval.

Churchill Downs announced that the G3 Ballysax S. at Dundalk would be added to the "European Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve". This season's Kentucky Derby will be contested Sept. 5. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the national authority for Thoroughbred racing in Ireland, worked to transfer the Ballysax from Leopardstown to Dundalk Racecourse. The 1 5/16-mile race for 3-year-olds will be held July 12 over Dundalk's all-weather synthetic surface. The points for the top four runners will be 30-12-6-3. "We're very appreciative of the cooperation shown by...

The resurfacing of the track at Dundalk, Ireland's only all-weather track, is proceeding nicely, reported the venue's chief executive Jim Martin. "We said that we would have it done by June 15 and are well on target for that so we can race on July 12," he said. "The month period before starting racing here again will give everyone the chance to have a look and to have trial runs with horses galloping on it. "This is the time of the year to get work done on all-weather tracks. It's...