Tracy Piggott unveils new statue of jockey dad Lester Piggot at Guineas Festival at Curragh, Co Kildare
Crowds back on track for Grade 1 festival for first time since pandemic
Broadcaster Tracy Piggott, accompanied by her daughter Thea, unveiled a new statue of her famous father, legendary jockey Lester Piggott, at the Curragh Racecourse today. Lester Piggott won five Derbys at the Curragh - most famously on Shergar in 1981 - and three 2,000 Guineas races.
Crowds returned for the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival Weekend for the first time since 2019 for what is the traditional start of the Irish summer classic racing season.
Stylish racegoers returned to the Curragh on Saturday for the Guineas Festival for the first time since the pandemic. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Racing continues on Sunday and racecourse management expect large crowds again to see the feature Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas with the weather forecast predicting sunshine and temperatures expected to reach 18 degrees.
One horse of particular note is Olivia Maralda in the first race on Sunday, which is owned by former Liverpool and Barcelona soccer star Phillippe Coutinho who currently plays with Aston Villa in the Premiership in England. Coutinho’s horse is trained near the Curragh by young up and coming trainer Michael O’Callaghan but the soccer super star definitely won’t be able to make it to the races as he’s playing for Aston Villa tomorrow against Manchester City, who will the Premiership title if they win tomorrow.
Curragh Racecourse CEO Brian Kavanagh said “It was a fabulous day at the races today and we were delighted to see so many people enjoy themselves whilst watching was fantastic world class racing. We’re really looking forward now to tomorrow, we’re expecting a large crowd and warm, dry weather which will hopefully cheer home a few Irish trained winners.”