Punters delight as €200,000 Irish EBF Gowran Classic set to go to post on Bank Holiday Monday in Kilkenny

Gowran Park are gearing up for the renewal of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic on Bank Holiday Monday, June 2 with free admission sponsored by the Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association.

It is the Kilkenny racecourse’s most valuable race, offering prizemoney down to tenth place, with a total purse of €200,000. In addition, the winner will receive an automatic free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, and new to the series this year, a winning filly gets a free entry to the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

School children from Scoil Mhuire National School in Gowran and Scoil Bhríde, Paulstown have taken part in a special Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Racing Juniors education day at Gowran Park Racecourse as the County Kilkenny track gears up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic.

Pictures: Vicky Comerford
Now in its second year, the Irish EBF Gowran Classic is a key race in the Smullen Series. Named in memory of champion jockey Pat Smullen, it is a series of races for two and three-year-olds, with the objective to provide breeders, owners and trainers of middle-distance horses with valuable races during the season.
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The race meeting is Gowran Park’s sporting and social event of their summer season and will feature a host of entertainment and activities in the enclosure.

Singer-songwriter and TikTok star Robert Grace has been confirmed to provide the musical entertainment after racing. 

Racegoers can win much sought after All-Ireland hurling final tickets along with accommodation in a special sweepstake. Patrons just have to enter the racecard competition. Names drawn from the hat will be paired with a horse in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic. The name linked to the winning horse will win the exclusive prize. During racing budding jockeys, young and old, can evaluate their riding skills on the racehorse simulator.
Cheltenham Festival winner Briar Hill and his owner Corinne Doran will be on hand to meet and greet racegoers as part of the Treo Eile ‘Meet The Racehorse’ initiative. More than a decade on from his famous triumph at Cheltenham, Briar Hill is thriving in his second life show jumping, riding club events, one day events and showing with Corinne.

Free entry is kindly sponsored by INPBA – tickets must be downloaded in advance from www.gowranpark.ie. 

Gowran Park General Manager Eddie Scally, said: “We are delighted with the entries for this year’s running of our Irish EBF Gowran Classic which will take place on Bank Holiday Monday June 2. It is building towards another brilliant race with runners representing all the top yards. We have a host of activities planned for the day, built around the Irish EBF Gowran Classic. The top-class racing will be complimented by great food, lots of family friendly activities and the brilliant Robert Grace and his band live in concert after racing. The INPBA have kindly sponsored the gate, so we are expecting a brilliant turnout. Tickets must be downloaded in advance at www.gowranpark.ie.”
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Jessica Harrington, 2024 Irish EBF Gowran Classic winning trainer, commented: “Last year we were lucky to win the first running of the €200,000 Irish EBF Gowran Classic with Fleur De Chine and this year we are targeting the race again with nine prospective runners in the mix. The prize money of €200,000 is very attractive and because it is a median race, you know you are racing against other similarly valued horses. We like the new option of a free entry to the Irish Oaks as well as the Irish Derby, it is an attractive added bonus for our owners. The linking of the Gowran Classic with the exciting new Smullen Series will give further focus to these middle-distance horses from their two-year-old careers to targeting the €200,000 Irish EBF Gowran Classic as a three-year-old.”

Joe Foley Irish EBF Chairman, said: “The Irish EBF Gowran Classic is one of our most important sponsorships as it puts the spotlight on the breeding and retention of middle-distance horses by giving connections a rewarding incentive to race them. The new Smullen Series cements our commitment to the middle-distance horse, two-year-olds now have a range of races from July to the end of the season and the following season they can link into the existing Spring Series of races creating a pathway to the €200,000 Gowran Classic as a three-year-old. Gowran Park have created an exciting family entertainment day around the race with big crowds expected and make sure to stay after the last race to hear the talented Robert Grace perform live.”