Free entry on offer as Gowran Park gets set to host €200,000 Irish EBF Classic in Kilkenny
The race takes place at the Kilkenny venue next month
The Irish EBF Gowran Classic, the culmination of the Smullen Series, has an incredible 81 horses still standing, after last weeks forfeit stage, with connections vying for a share of the massive €200,000 purse.
The race will take place on Bank Holiday Monday June 1st at Gowran Park racecourse with free entry for racegoers generously sponsored by the Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association.
To further reward racegoers there will be €1,000 Cash Sweepstakes connected to the Irish EBF Gowran Classic race on offer to all attending on the day.
Tickets went on sale at 9am on Friday 8th May, go to www.gowranpark.ie to download your tickets.
Of the 81 horses remaining in contention, nine are UK-based entries, including two recent winners: Bunyola Bay (Richard Hannon) and Mohaaraj (Richard Hughes). Meanwhile, the Irish contingent has been in prolific form, securing four maiden victories at Cork and Gowran Park in just the last few days:
- Yousaynothingatall (Joseph O’Brien): Smullen Series Maiden winner, Cork (May 3rd)
- Shaws Bay (Johnny Murtagh): Maiden winner, Gowran Park (May 5th)
- Satoyama (Joseph O’Brien): Maiden winner, Gowran Park (May 5th)
- Dark Lucinda (Paddy Twomey): Maiden winner, Gowran Park (May 5th)
The Irish EBF Gowran Classic is the centre piece of the Smullen Series, 18 races for middle-distance horses, starting in July with the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas for 2yo’s and finishing with the valuable Irish EBF Gowran Classic the following season for 3yo’s with a total of €665,000 in prize money. The objective of the series is to provide breeders, owners and trainers of middle-distance horses with valuable races during their 2yo and 3yo season campaigns. In addition, the winner will receive an automatic free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, and a winning filly gets a free entry to the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
The June Bank Holiday fixture is the Kilkenny racecourse’s most valuable raceday and one of the sporting and social events of the summer season. It will feature a host of entertainment and activities for all the family in the enclosure. Racegoers have the chance to win €1,000 cash by taking part in the sweepstake linked to the main race. Names drawn from the drum will be paired with a horse in the Irish EBF Gowran Classic and the person drawn against the winning horse can walk away with €1,000 cash. The celebrations continue long after the final race, as popular band After Dark takes to the stage to round off the perfect summer day.
Free entry is kindly sponsored by INPBA – tickets must be downloaded in advance from www.gowranpark.ie
Joseph O’Brien, 2025 Irish EBF Gowran Classic winning trainer, commented: “The Irish EBF Gowran Classic is a standout fixture in the calendar with excellent prize money on offer. The Smullen Series plays a vital role in providing middle-distance prospects with the right platform to excel. I was delighted to win the race last year with Green Triangle, and with a strong team in the yard, I’m looking forward to returning on June 1st with some live chances.”
Joe Foley Irish EBF Chairman, said: “The Irish EBF Smullen Series has quickly become one of our most significant sponsorships as it puts the spotlight on the breeding of middle-distance horses by giving connections a rewarding incentive to buy and race them. The Irish EBF Gowran Classic is the showpiece of the series and to see 81 horses standing their ground is very encouraging for ourselves and Horse Racing Ireland. Gowran Park must be commended on recent facility upgrades and their overall dynamic approach to hosting racedays. We look forward to seeing everyone at Gowran on June 1st and make sure to arrive early to enter the €1,000 Sweepstakes.”
Gowran Park General Manager Eddie Scally, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming racegoers to Gowran Park for the 2026 Irish EBF Gowran Classic on Monday, June 1st. It promises to be a fantastic day out for everyone, and we’re especially delighted to open the gates free of charge thanks to the generous support of the INPBA. Tickets will be available to download from www.gowranpark.ie from 9am Friday May 8th, and we’d encourage everyone to secure theirs early and come along to enjoy what is truly a full family fun day. With a wide range of activities for children, kindly provided by Sonix Entertainments in Kilkenny, there will be plenty to keep younger racegoers entertained throughout the day. To round things off, we’re thrilled to have the brilliant After Dark band performing live in the evening, ensuring a great atmosphere right through to the finish. It’s shaping up to be one of the highlights of the summer here at Gowran Park, and we can’t wait to see everyone there.”