Blog

Irish Injured Jockeys are delighted to confirm that The Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series is back this year. The series of races offers horse riding enthusiasts the chance to experience what it is like to be a jockey riding at three of Ireland’s best tracks.

This year’s races will be held at Naas Racecourse on 27th August, The Curragh Racecourse on 24th September and Leopardstown Racecourse on 21st October.

This unique opportunity offers racing fans a once in a lifetime chance to experience what it is really like to be a jockey while also raising awareness and much needed funds for Irish Injured Jockeys. Riders will not only have the chance of winning each of the three races but they will also accumulate points for placings throughout the series with the overall winner of the series to be announced following the final race at Leopardstown on October 21st.

To participate in this charity race series, each rider is asked to raise €10,000 through sponsorship and/or fundraising, all funds raised will go to Irish Injured Jockeys.  Riders have to undergo an interview and training day with a view to receiving their licence to take part from the Racing Academy and Centre of Education, RACE in Co. Kildare.

This year’s Corinthian Challengers are Eimear O’Gorman, Jansseen Hill, Michael O’Neill, Martina Dempsey, Niamh Ashe, Damien Moore, Aisling Fitzell, Vivienne Connolly, Darren Dunne, Aimee Murphy, Abigail Reilly, Hazel Smith, Anna Cropper and Katie Brown.

With this year’s participants now chosen, family and friends are invited along to show their support on race days. The camaraderie between riders and feel-good factor that participants enjoy when taking part and raising funds are also very noteworthy bonuses.

Michael Higgins, General Manager of Irish Injured Jockeys said “Following on from the previous success of the series, we wanted to build on it to make it very attractive for the participants, racecourses, racegoers and for the media to really engage with again this year. I would like to thank this year’s challengers as it is a big commitment to take part and raise much needed funds for IIJ, to date the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

It takes a driven and committed person to take on The Corinthian Challenge, someone who can get race fit and maintain that level over the months, they have to work with trainers, source horses and raise funds for IIJ.

Previous Corinthian Challenger’s described the series as, ‘unbelievable’, ‘the best experience of my life’, ‘adrenaline pumping’, ‘the ultimate personal challenge’, ‘a thousand dreams come true and epic!’

Previous high profile participants include;
• Sheikh Fahad Al Thani
• Yvonne Connolly
• Jessica O’Gara
• Marina Hamilton

For more information on The Corinthian Challenge visit http://www.corinthianchallenge.com

Fundraising Link to each riders pages :https://irishinjuredjockeys.enthuse.com/cf/2023-corinthian-challenge

For information about the first race at Naas https://naasracecourse.com/racing-event/summer-sunday-family-fun-day-2023/

Pics Attached By Alisha McCormack