Curragh boss reports 19 per cent increase in overall attendances at HQ in 2023
Finny Maguire onboard Falcon Eight comes home to win at the Curragh last year. Chris Hayes rode Falcon Eight to a seventh career success in the Group Three Comer Group Loughbrown Stakes on Sunday. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
They combined to record a classic success at the Curragh in May with Tahiyra in the 1,000 Guineas and Falcon Eight followed in the footsteps of his classic-winning full sister Search For A Song who landed the Loughbrown in 2021. Colin Keane was crowned champion jockey for a fifth time in an awards ceremony but didn’t improve on his seasonal haul of 92 winners. Jamie Powell is champion apprentice with 28 winners, while Aidan O’Brien once again secured the trainer’s title with more than €6.7 million in prizemoney.
“We got a break with the weather for once and it’s good to finish off with a day like today. The crowds have supported us this year. We’ve been trying to work with the local community to get them back,” he said. Keane said of his season: “The highlight would have to be riding a first Royal Ascot winner or riding a winner for my father here on Champions Weekend .”