Belmont Park and Naas swap race sponsorships with Horse Racing Ireland

The New York Racing Association, Horse Racing Ireland and Naas Racecourse have formed a partnership to sponsor turf races at Belmont Park and Naas, according to a NYRA news release published by Horse Racing Nation, giving the two racing industries a shared marketing platform and giving overseas runners a route into the Man o’ War. The release said the agreement gives NYRA and Horse Racing Ireland reciprocal sponsorship of races in 2026 at Belmont Park and in 2027 at Naas.

The partnership begins with the Grade 2, $500,000 (€446,700) Man o’ War presented by Horse Racing Ireland on Saturday 28 November at Belmont Park, a 10-furlong turf race, according to the release. Belmont Park will then sponsor the Belmont Park Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at Naas on Wednesday 23 June 2027.

The New York Racing Association is a not-for-profit corporation franchised by New York State to run thoroughbred racing at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course through 2033, according to NYRA.

Horse Racing Ireland is the commercial state body that governs and promotes thoroughbred racing in Ireland, based at the Curragh, Co Kildare, according to Wikipedia.

Naas Racecourse is a dual-purpose racecourse about 30km from Dublin in Co Kildare, in existence since 1924, according to At The Races.

Andrew Offerman, senior vice president of racing and operations at NYRA, said in the release that NYRA is proud to work with Horse Racing Ireland and Naas on the growing connection between racing in New York and Ireland, and that the partnership highlights the worldwide impact of the new Belmont Park.

Charles O’Neill, CEO of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, said in the release that Belmont Park is steeped in history.

Aidan McGarry, racecourse manager at Naas Racecourse, said in the release that Naas has long been seen as a nursery of champions and that the association with Belmont Park is a tremendous honour.

Horse Racing Ireland receives €79.3 million of a €102 million Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund in Budget 2027, according to TheJournal.ie.

For the sector, the arrangement shows two racing bodies swapping race sponsorships across the Atlantic, linking prize races to each other’s calendars and audiences.