by Steve Wolf, for the Vincent Delaney Memorial Weekend

Dublin, Ireland — This Saturday and Sunday the Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial harness racing weekend at Portmarnock Raceway has developed into the biggest and richest race weekend in all of Ireland and the UK.

A record 169 horses were entered in the box for the two-day meet. Last year it was 136, so this marks a 22 percent increase. Purses are at an all-time high at more than €80,000 (US$87,000), a 48 percent increase over the prior year and the final of the Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial is racing for a record €18,500 this year (US$20,000), plus a €$4,000 (US$4,350) consolation race. Last year there was just a final for €12,000.

“It just amazing how this race has grown,” said Derek Delaney, who with his brother James, has developed this race weekend in memory of their younger brother Vincent, who tragically died in 2011.

“This is just the fourth edition of the Delaney Memorial,” Delaney said. “And this Saturday we will have three elimination divisions. It’s just wonderful how big this weekend has grown in such a short time.”

The Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial is for 2-year-old pacers. Of the three elimination divisions, one is for fillies and two are for colts. The top two finishers from each heat, plus the two fastest third place finishers, return for the final on Sunday. Fillies will draw for inside post positions on the half-mile oval.

In addition to the Delaney Memorial elims on Saturday there will be two elimination divisions of the Oakwood Stud 3-year-old Open and on Sunday will be the finals of each of the series.

Also Sunday, the inaugural Red John Memorial FFA Junior Pace that drew two full fields, the Paul Murtagh Sr. Memorial, the Inner-Dominion Trot and Irish-American FFA take place. A total of 24 races will be held over the two-day meet.

“There is also more to this weekend than just racing,” Delaney added. “We will have special guests from around the world. Drivers George Brennan from the USA and Dexter Dunn from New Zealand will be competing, trainers John McDermott from the USA and Cran Dalgety from New Zealand are coming.

“So is the great USA Hall of Fame announcer Roger Huston coming back again to call the races,” Delaney added. “And other trainers and horse people from Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Belgium and Sweden are all coming over for my brother’s race weekend. It’s just too much for words.”

Derek Delaney heads everything concerning the race weekend. He, along with his brother James, other volunteers and friends, make this weekend extra special for visiting guests.

“We will be going on a carriage ride through Dublin on Thursday,” Delaney explained, “then a Viking Splash Tour ride of the city, followed by lunch at the worldly renowned Temple Bar. On Friday we have a tour bus taking everyone out to the country to Oakwood Stud Farm and training facility followed by lunch at a local pub.

“Then Friday night we have a gala dinner to kick-off the weekend for more than 200 people. On Saturday and Sunday it’s all harness racing at Portmarnock.”

And there is more, of course, as the entire weekend also features fund raising for the Saving Dylan Fund, which raises money to fight Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency, a genetic disease in children that is rapidly degenerative and fatal. Dylan and his family will be part of the festivities throughout the weekend. For more information go to www.savingdylan.com. So far more than €15,000 has been raised before the big race weekend.

There will be exhibitions of Irish dancing and music at the races, plus a ladies dress and hat competition. Plenty of bookies to take bets on the races and this year, due to matching grant funds, a permanent judges stand and announcer booth, a built-in electronic teletimer, new covered grandstand and a new playground area for the children.

Considering harness racing was very stagnant for years in Ireland and the UK, the work that Derek Delaney and his crew have done over the past few years is astonishing.

They have helped immensely in the revitalization of harness racing for the British Isles. Every year yearling prices have increased. More owners are getting into the sport. Top of the line pacers from the USA and trotters from France are being imported for racing and breeding.

With estimated crowds to be in the thousands this weekend, little Portmarnock Raceway in Dublin, Ireland, has been transposed into a Little Brown Jug/Elitloppet/Gold Cup & Saucer weekend of its very own.