RTÉ Sport and Horse Racing Ireland announce new three-year broadcasting deal
RTÉ Sport and Horse Racing Ireland have announced today that they have agreed a new broadcasting deal for live coverage of Irish horse racing for the next three years that will deliver a record number of free-to-air live racing days in Ireland.
Under the new deal, RTÉ will broadcast 31 days of live racing in 2021, rising to 32 live days in 2022 and in 2023.
RTÉ will continue to bring Irish audiences closer to all the action from the coveted Festivals at Fairyhouse, Punchestown, the Curragh, Galway and Leopardstown., while new to the RTÉ schedule will be the Ascot Trials Day from Naas in May, and a series of top-quality winter Sundays over the jumps.
2021’s action continues this Easter Sunday and Monday from 2.30pm with Racing from Fairyhouse, culminating in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
Group Head of Sport at RTÉ, Declan McBennett, said: “Horse racing is an integral part of the RTÉ Sport offering, and we are delighted to extend our partnership with Horse Racing Ireland and the racecourses. The trainers and jockeys in particular have proven repeatedly that they are at the very forefront of their profession internationally, and we hope to see the very best of Irish equine talent over the next three years.”
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “RTÉ has long been a wonderful partner for Irish racing, and we are delighted to extend our relationship for a further three years. The increased coverage is very welcome and will enhance the telling of our great racing stories.”
RTÉ Fixtures 2021
- Jan 28 Gowran Park
- Feb 6 Leopardstown Dublin Racing Festival
- Feb 7 Leopardstown Dublin Racing Festival
- April 4 Fairyhouse Easter Festival
- April 5 Fairyhouse Easter Festival
- April 27 Punchestown Festival
- April 28 Punchestown Festival
- April 29 Punchestown Festival
- April 30 Punchestown Festival
- May 1 Punchestown Festival
- May 16 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Day
- May 22 Curragh Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas
- May 23 Curragh Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas
- June 26 Curragh Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
- June 27 Curragh Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes
- July 17 Curragh Juddmonte Irish Oaks
- July 26 Galway Festival
- July 27 Galway Festival
- July 28 Galway Festival
- July 29 Galway Festival
- September 11 Leopardstown Longines Irish Champions Weekend
- September 12 Curragh Longines Irish Champions Weeekend
- October 30 Down Royal
- November 14 Punchestown
- November 28 Fairyhouse Winter Festival
- December 5 Punchestown/Cork
- December 26 Leopardstown/Limerick Christmas Festivals
- December 27 Leopardstown/Limerick Christmas Festivals
- December 28 Leopardstown/Limerick Christmas Festivals
- December 29 Leopardstown/Limerick Christmas Festivals
*Navan fixture in November TBC