Uncomplicated, relevant, rich, uncompromising and dedicated to serving the breeders and producers of quality Irish horses is how I read the Clarecastle show schedule that I have just received.

And that is not surprising for its mission statement as enunciated by its show director Michael Slattery is: “Our focus is on the Irish breeder and producer who has received meagre prize money down the years.

"I believe we can rejuvenate showing in Ireland and enhance the reputation of the Irish horse.” To that end the Clarecastle committee has upped its total prize fund. Assisted by a HSI grant, its purposeful programme has been boosted to €25,000.

The beginning

It all begins exactly where it should - with the mares. So, the first class of the day is the €6,000 Banner Broodmare Championship which is open to the first 20 entries received.

Interestingly enough, 10 of those were catalogued the day after the schedule was released. The winning mare will get €2,000 and an extra €300 will go to her breeder.

In addition to the €6,000 prize money, owners will participate in a draw for 10 stallion nominations valued at a further €6,000. That draw will be made in the ring prior to the prize-giving.

Next comes the Irish Shows Association All Ireland Colt Foal Championship with prizes of €3,000 supported by the local Ennis Municipal Authority. In a nice additional twist, there is a special award for “the best turned out foal and the most suitably dressed handler” in this event.

Irish Sport Horse Series

The afternoon programme will be taken up with four very specific young horse classes that lead to the overall Irish Horse of the Year Championship. Each of them is for yearlings, two- and three-year-olds and they include:

  • Traditional Horse of the Year, male and female
  • Irish Colt Sport Horse of the Year
  • Irish Filly Sport Horse of the Year
  • Irish Draught Horse of the Year

    • Each of these four classes will have €1,200 in prize money. But in addition, the top four in each class will be eligible to come forward for the €5,200 Brian Boru Horse of the Year Grand Final with €2,000 plus the Brian Boru sword replica going to the overall winner.

    Free Gate Entry

    For punters coming to view the magnificent horses plus a whole host of other features, the show has declared that for 2022 the gate entry will be free. The committee announced: “It is our way of saying welcome to the hard pressed people who have been under the COVID-19 cosh.”