RDS’s Richest Dublin Horse Show

Times change and costs change but the wonder of the Dublin Horse Show remains.

Michael Slavin

27 July 2022

The greatest show on earth! The cost for this year’s 2022 FEI Longines Nations Cup Dublin Horse Show on August 17 – 21 is going to be €6million. \ Philip Doyle

The first RDS Dublin Horse Show at Leinster House in 1868 cost approximately £2,500 to run. That would be the equivalent of some €230,000 today. But look at this! The cost for this year’s revived 2022 FEI Longines Nations Cup Dublin Horse Show on August 17 – 21 launched last week is going to be €6.2million.

The first RDS Dublin Horse Show at Leinster House in 1868 cost approximately £2,500 to run. That would be the equivalent of some €230,000 today.

But look at this! The cost for this year’s revived 2022 FEI Longines Nations Cup Dublin Horse Show on August 17 – 21 launched last week is going to be €6.2million.

For the show jumping programme in the yard of Leinster house back then in 1868, Lord Howth William Gaisford-St. Laurence put up the total prize money of £55.

The 11-class schedule of international jumping at this year’s show will have prizes in excess of €900,000.

The Longines Grand Prix alone will have €350,000 on offer and the Aga Khan Cup on Friday August 19th has a further €200,000.

Non-profit

At last week’s launch it was noted: “The RDS mission is to contribute to the cultural and economic development of Ireland. The Dublin Horse Show is a vital way in which this is achieved.

The Show is run on a not- for-profit basis to make it as beneficial as possible for the Irish Sport Horse industry.”

My first experience of the Horse Show was back in 1946 when its running after a six-year war lag was like a new breath of hope, and one just had to be there to see the Irish Army compete in peace against the world.

What with COVID and Putin’s war, this year has something of the same feel to it - a touch of peace in the midst of hardship.

And it all comes down to this - we are lucky to have the RDS to put on a world-class event that we could hardly otherwise afford.

The Minister Speaks

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue was on hand for the launch last week. His concentration was on the benefit that the Show brings to the sport horse industry.

“The Show celebrates all aspects of the horse sport world and plays a vital role in highlighting and promoting the equestrian industry both domestically and internationally,” he said.

It is interesting to recall that back in 1926 when RDS President Judge Wylie sought Government help toward initiating the first Aga Khan Trophy, his best argument with then minister for Agriculture Patrick Hogan was the benefit it would bring to the farmers of Ireland.

An Eye of Hickstead

The Hickstead Nations Cup is live on RTÉ Friday 29 July from 4-6pm. Named on the Irish team bidding for points toward the Cup Final in Barcelona are: Andrew Bourns, Alexander Butler, Jack Ryan and Shane and Trevor Breen. We wish them the very best in Sussex tomorrow.