This coming weekend Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th September, Portmarnock Raceway will host the annual “Christopher Dunne 3 year old Memorial Pace and Race Day where over 120 horses are set to do battle for a share of the €30,000 prizemoney on offer over the 2 days of racing.
To honour the memory of son Christopher who died tragically back in 1994 at the tender age of 18 whilst on holiday, his parents Christy and Carol along with siblings Geoff, Jonathan and Alison have fittingly organized and heavily sponsored an annual 3 Year Old Derby every subsequent year which has become one of highlights of the Irish harness racing calendar. The Dunne family are long steeped in harness racing going back some 3 generations, with a fourth generation now coming through from their base in Kill, County Kildare under the name of the “Porterstown Stud”.
This year’s event marks the 20th anniversary of Christophers passing and sees 13 three year old colts and fillies face the starter over 2 heats and a grand final for a purse of over €15,000. Such prizemoney has lured the cream of 3 year old pacing talent from both the UK and Ireland including some royally bred US/Canadian bred imports. Fittingly, the Porterstown Stud, have their own participant in Porterstown Chris who goes to post as one of the favourites to land the much coveted trophy and the lions share of the spoils. The aptly named 3 year old colt is out of Carols own mare Miladies Pleasure and sired by the famous “Doonbeg” which they also own and now stand at stud having finally retired after being victorious at Musselburgh in Scotland back in July.
A stellar supporting card is also lined up to complement the feature event. 7 top Free-For-All pacers are set to go to post followed by 5 top Free-For-All Trotters, 9 Junior Free-For-All pacers, 5 Four Year Old Pacers and the STAGBI Mares Race. 3 Le Trotter Francais races complete the card with added prizemoney for all grade of handicap horses competing.
Altogether, over 120 standardreds have been entered to compete over the 2 days and such a huge entry is set to attract hundreds of additional patrons to Portmarnock Raceway who will also welcome the invasion of English, Scottish and Welsh harness-mad enthusiasts with open arms and the promise of great racing, great atmosphere, great music and great craic.
To steal a paraphrase from the famous Roger Huston……………..BE THERE !
