Initial entries for the Premier Handicaps on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September are well up on previous years. A total of 193 entries have been received, boasting a combined value of €600,000 (£474,702). The corresponding races in 2013 attracted 100 entries. 36 have been received from Britain and one from France. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap, to be …

Almost 800 people took part in the annual Jog For Jockeys charity fundraiser on Sunday August 24th at the Curragh Racecourse, raising €24,661.80 (£19,512) – the highest amount reached since 2010. Former Jockey Stephen Hunter was first across the line in the 10km race with an impressive time of 34:48. James Tyrell won the 5km chase in 18:02. Brian Hayes was the first jockey …

Naas Racecourse has launched an equine slant on the “Ice Bucket” challenge to boost awareness and charitable donations for the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. The challenge, for those who accept their nomination, is to stand still as two buckets of cold water are thrown directly at them, similar to the cool down of a horse after they come into the parade ring …

Team SBC’s David Kelly discusses how the meteoric rise of Ireland’s rugby team can help fuel and inspire a generation of future sportswomen, with bookmakers and TV companies finally waking from the slumber. Philip Doyle’s charges have set the standard, winning their first ever Grand Slam last year and achieving a record fourth place finish at the Rugby World Cup …

Bookmakers William Hill have cut their odds for a Yes vote in the Scottish Referendum, after last night’s live debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling. A snap ballot by the Guardian/ICM found that 71 per cent of those polled said the first minister won the contest, reversing a 56 per cent defeat in the first TV debate on August …

Amaya Gaming Group has announced its financial results for the three and six month periods ended June 30th, revealing a rise of £4.4m in revenue. The entertainment solutions provider recently acquired the Oldford Group Limited, parent company of the Rational Group, one of the world’s largest online gaming companies and owner and operator of the PokerStars and Full Tilt brands, giving it a major hand in live …

Tattersalls Ireland has described last week’s August National Hunt Sale as “hugely successful with great trade seen at all levels of the market”. According to the bloodstock auctioneer’s Irish website, the three day auction produced the second-best aggregate total ever, €4,767,000 (£3,814,077)-a clearance rate just shy of 80 per cent. The group said the average and median prices, €9,829 (£7864) and €6,000 (£4800), …

Ahead of tonight’s Rose of Tralee, Paddy Power and its number crunchers have put together a comprehensive study on the festival. The bookie’s research has revealed that Luxembourg tops the charts in terms of wins per size of its Irish community, with one victory from a tiny pool of 20,000. Tralee itself is next on the list, with one win per 47,000, with …

Top National Hunt and Flat Jockeys Barry Geraghty, Andrew McNamara, Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden, Pat Smullen, Fran Berry, and Shane Foley are just some of the names who have signed up for the Jog for Jockeys 5km & 10km races at the Curragh on Sunday 24th August. All monies raised will be donated to the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. Grand National and Gold Cup winning Jockey, Barry Geraghty said: “I ran the 10km race last …

The European Pattern Committee (EPC) has announced a string of changes to the sprint programme from 2015, designed to address the current lack of opportunities for high-class three-year-old sprinters. The measures include upgrades to races in Britain, France, Germany and Ireland, as well as the introduction of a new Group 1 three-year-old only sprint over six furlongs at Royal Ascot. …