by Steve Wolf, for the Vincent Delaney Memorial Weekend

Portmarnock, Ireland — It was announced Sunday (Sept. 6) by the Vincent Delaney Memorial Committee that starting in 2016 there will be an Oaks division for fillies.

The Vincent Delaney Memorial for 2-year-old pacers had been an open series for both colts and fillies the past four years. It has developed into the richest stakes event in all of Ireland and the UK.

According to committee chairman Derek Delaney, “With an increase every year in fillies nominating to the event, we have decided to create an Oaks division.

“The committee is also very grateful to USA’s Adam Bowden of Diamond Creek Farm,” Delaney added, “as they have come forward and are now the official sponsor of the Oaks division. If not for their sponsorship we may not have been able to come up with a separate filly division for next year.”

Delaney said that the committee is now restructuring the Vincent Delaney Memorial for 2016 and that there will be some big changes coming forth for the series.

“This coming year we will have nearly €45,000 in total purse money,” Delaney explained. “And we will divide it up into advance prep races throughout Ireland and the UK, then the elimination heat races and for the finals.

“We calculated that in 2016, both the colt and the filly finals could each go for €15,000 and maybe more depending on the number of horses entered in each division.”

Delaney said that the committee will most likely drop the consolation race that was held in 2015 and will consider adding a late supplemental fee to the conditions of the race.

“We are working diligently at redoing our race conditions for 2016,” Delaney said. “As we want all the breeders and owners aware of what is taking place in our series before the yearling sales. There has been tremendous growth in our breeding program these past years and now perspective owners and breeders can look forward to our race as an extra incentive to buy a filly or colt.”

Next year’s Vincent Delaney Memorial will take place Saturday (Aug. 13) and Sunday (Aug. 14).

“We have interest now from owners and breeders in not just Ireland and the UK,” said Delaney, “but also in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The growth of this series and its popularity world-wide in the harness racing industry is tremendous and we want to work at making it the best for everyone with these changes.”

For more information check out www.vincentdelaneymemorial.com.