by Steve Wolf, for the Vincent Delaney Memorial Weekend

Dublin, Ireland — The biggest and richest race weekend in all of Ireland and Great Britain, the Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial, is set to go Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 13-14) at Portmarnock Raceway in Dublin.

With a record number of 180 horses set to compete over the two days, the limelight will be on the Vincent Delaney Memorial, which is for 2-year-old pacers.

For the first time colts and fillies each have their own divisions to compete in. Both divisions drew 14 entries so two elimination divisions will take place Saturday with the top four official finishers returning Sunday afternoon for their respective finals.

“It is the biggest and toughest challenge for any 2-year-old in the sport,” said Derek Delaney, head of the VDM committee. “No other race weekend requires 2-year-olds to race back-to-back days. But every year since 2012 our entry numbers increase by more than 10 percent. The VDM has become the race that everyone wants to win in Ireland and the UK.”

The race was developed by Derek and his brother, James Delaney, who own and operate Oakwood Stud, one of the top up and coming breeding facilities in Ireland, to honor the memory of their younger brother, Vincent, who tragically died of a massive heart attack at age 27 in 2011.

The first colt division is the third race Saturday and is headed by recent Breeders Crown UK and Ireland winner Share A Smile (Pro Bono Best), Rhyds Rock Star (Hasty Hall) and Tyrion Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere). The second division is the fourth race featuring the super tough Rhyds Rival (Hasty Hall) taking on Benny Camden (Pro Bono Best) and Talavary Motivator (Crown Manhattan).

The fillies get underway in the sixth race with Breeders Crown UK and Ireland winner Rhyds Mystique (Hasty Hall) the big favorite going against Greenhilldebatable (Well Said) and Coalford Honey (Coalford Laag). The Share The Delight filly IB Coyote heads the seventh race second filly division against Cross Hill Ace (Cam’s Card Shark) and Theladieslovejim (Big Jim).

“We have many of the leading owners, breeders, drivers and trainers from around the world coming to Ireland this weekend,” Derek Delaney said. “Our feature drivers are Aaron Merriman from the USA, who led the world with the most wins in 2015 and currently leads all drivers in 2016. Also here for the second straight year is New Zealand’s Dexter Dunn, who wowed the crowd at the VDM last year and has been racing in Wales at Tir Prince Raceway the last ten days.

“We also have Adam Bowden from Diamond Creek Farm in the USA,” Delaney explained, “and they are sponsoring the inaugural VDM filly final. Top owner Joe Bellino of Rock N Roll Heaven and Pet Rock fame is here from the USA with his entire family. Alan Galloway, the owner of Alabar Stud, the biggest breeders in all of Australia and New Zealand is here. World renowned trainers John McDermott from New Zealand and Jo Ann Looney-King from the USA are all here for the VDM weekend.”

Additional major stakes events over the weekend include the Oakwood Stud Derby for 3-year-olds at 1-1/2 miles, the Paul Murtagh Sr. Memorial for 4-year-olds, the Rock N Roll Heaven/Pet Rock Irish-American FFA Pace that is sponsored by Joe Bellino, the Lee Edwards/PJI Engineering Junior FFA Pace and the Elvin-Delaney French FFA Trot.

In the Oakwood Stud Derby, all eyes will be on last year’s VDM winner, Miraculous and driver Patrick Kane Jr. This year Miraculous has become the top 3-year-old pacer of the year with five straight wins and last week set the track record at Tir Prince and prior to that took his lifetime mark of 1:55.9 at Portmarnock Raceway.

“We have full fields in nearly every race,” Delaney added, “which should make for some great action and odds for the fans and the bookies onsite. Both race cards are very competitive and I know the fans coming out and our special guests from around the world are going to have a super time.

“And for the third straight year our special guest announcer is USA Hall of Famer Roger Huston joining Darren Owen in the booth,” Delaney added. “It is just amazing how this weekend has grown into such a special event. Both James and I know that our brother Vincent would be so proud of what we have done in his memory.”