Action-packed 2024 Dublin Horse Show in store at the RDS

Ireland’s biggest annual equestrian event, the 2024 RDS Dublin Horse Show gets underway today (Wednesday August 14th), with a host of top class national and international action to look forward to over five days at the famous RDS arena in Ballsbridge.

With 168 Classes and Competitions and a prize fund of over €1,450,000, this years Dublin Horse Show promises to be bigger than ever. The Sport Ireland Classic will be the opening day feature in the main arena, along with the first of the young horse classes showcasing the next generation of equine stars.
Thursday’s Speed Derby promises plenty of thrills and spills, and that will be followed on Thursday evening by the Cashel Palace Hotel stakes.

Friday as always is Aga Khan day at the RDS where the Irish Show Jumping team will hope to go one better than their runner-up finish from last year. Team manager Michael Blake has named a squad that includes three riders who were selected for the Paris Olympic Games in Derry’s Daniel Coyle, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Meath’s Cian O’Connor. They will be joined on the Aga Khan squad by Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Louth’s Mark McAuley, with Blake set to name his final four riders later this week.

The hugely popular Defender Puissance will thrill the crowds on Saturday as horses and riders jump the big red wall. Sunday’s curtain-closing Grand Prix of Ireland will this year be sponsored by Rolex, with a whopping €500,000 up for grabs as some of the top horses and riders in the world do battle.

Alison Corbally, Director General of The Irish Horse Board said:

“The Dublin Horse Show is the pinnacle of Ireland’s equestrian calendar and our opportunity to showcase Irish horses and riders to the world. The show is a significant contributor to the Irish economy each year, through qualifying events around the country and culminating this week, where all roads lead to the Dublin Horse Show. It is wonderful to see the homecoming of top riders, many of whom are based abroad, to compete on home soil against the best of the world. We wish all our breeders and producers the very best of luck and welcome the many international visitors from across the globe.”