The IHRA are proudly happy to announce the inaugural Juvenile Stakes programme for both two and three year old pacers which will take place annually beginning this year. Considering the cancellation of the Vincent Delaney Memorial earlier this week, the IHRA have decided to support the owners and trainers of juvenile pacers, who have been preparing their young stock for many months now and to have a grand circuit for these pacers going forward. The Juvenile Stakes will be made up of four divisions; 2YO fillies, 2YO colts and geldings, 3YO fillies & 3YO colts and geldings and will have a combined purse of €52,000, with €14,000 for each division.
The structure of the programme, taken from similar International Stakes races, will see four individual elimination races being staged from July through to September and the participating horses competing to gain points in order to reach the finals day held in Portmarnock Raceway in late September. The points awarded at each of the elimination race will be 16 points for first, 8 points for second, 4 points for third, 2 points for fourth and 1 point for fifth.
A table of the purses on offer at each elimination race and finals for each division is as follows:
| 1st Elimination July | 1st – €1,000 | 2nd – €300 | 3rd – €200 |
| 2nd Elimination Aug | 1st – €1200 | 2nd – €400 | 3rd – €300 |
| 3rd Elimination RJM | 1st – €1400 | 2nd – €550 | 3rd – €350 |
| 4th Elimination Sept | 1st – €1,600 | 2nd – €700 | 3rd – €400 |
| Finals Day September | 1st – €3,500 | 2nd – €1,500 | 3rd – €600 |
The barrier draws for the finals will be decided by the total points accrued, from the heats, whereby the highest to the lowest will choose their position.
Nominations for the juvenile stakes close on Wednesday June 3rd2020 with a nomination fee of €350 and the second and final sustaining fee €350 is due on Wednesday July 1st2020.
Entries are now open to all and the IHRA will refund in full, any BHRC horse should our current restrictions not be lifted.
The IHRA intends to announce the dates for these events in the coming week, following a meeting of the racecourse committee to discuss the revised fixture list for the 2020 season.
