Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the media rights organisation, working with Horse Racing Ireland, Leopardstown Racecourse and The Curragh, have generated unprecedented global TV interest in Irish Champions Weekend, the two-day showpiece of Irish Flat horseracing.
Broadcasters in China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, US, Caribbean, South Africa, Russia, France, Italy, Poland and the UAE are among the countries showing live coverage of ICW, which is staged at Leopardstown on Saturday and The Curragh on Sunday.
The quality of racing will see CNN International (384million household reach) and Eurosport (148m) feature the weekend on their dedicated racing and equestrian programmes, Winning Post and Horse Excellence.
The opening day’s races offer a total prize fund of €2.45 million, including the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes, two of the world’s most highly-rated races. Sunday’s card includes four Group 1 races, headlined by the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, the final Irish Classic of the season.
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For the first time, both days will be broadcast on delay in China via Hainan TV, while Green Channel will show the Irish Champion Stakes, featuring Japan star, Deirdre, live to their Japanese audience.
Other broadcasters are listed below:
- · North and South America, plus the Caribbean, include: TVG, Capital OTB (US); CBC, HPI (Canada); and SportsMax (Caribbean).
- · Europe will be served by: RTE (ROI), Racing TV (UK, ROI), TV Poland, Match TV (Russia), SilkNet (Georgia), Equidia (France) and Unire (Italy).
- · Australasia is covered by: Sky Racing (Australia) AND Trackside (New Zealand).
- · Tellytrack will broadcast in South Africa, while 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region will be served by live coverage from the Dubai Racing Channel and Yas TV (Abu Dhabi).
