The Golden Horseshoe Challenge will link the Flying Five Stakes and Nunthorpe Stakes in a new cross-channel racing initiative

The Curragh Racecourse and York Racecourse are delighted to announce a new partnership designed to strengthen the association between two of Europe’s premier sprint races — the Bar 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh and the Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The partnership will introduce the Golden Horseshoe Challenge Trophy, creating a unique incentive for owners and connections to target both prestigious Group 1 contests with the same horse in the same season.

Under the new initiative, if the same horse wins both races in the same year, the winning owner will be presented with the Golden Horseshoe Challenge Trophy.

Both the Bar 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes which is one of the highlights of the Irish Champions Festival, and the Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes are established as major tests for Europe’s fastest sprinters, and the new partnership aims to provide an additional layer of sporting intrigue as connections consider campaigning their horses at both meetings.

Both races are also part of the Breeders Cup Challenge Win and You’re In Series.

Brian Kavanagh Chief Executive , The Curragh Racecourse, said
“We are delighted to announce this new partnership with York Racecourse. The Flying Five Stakes is one of the highlights of the Irish racing calendar, and the Nunthorpe Stakes is rightly regarded as one of the great sprint races in Europe. Linking the two races through the Golden Horseshoe Challenge gives owners and trainers an exciting new target and creates a compelling story for racing fans on both sides of the Irish Sea.”

William Derby, Chief Executive of York Racecourse commented:

“To be the fastest horse in a single Group One is impressive, to be the fastest in two just three weeks apart is worthy of special memory; which is why we created the Golden Horseshoe Challenge. The global nature of racing means ever greater connections between feature festivals and connections having a further incentive to take their chance on a big day at The Curragh can only help promote our sport.”

In addition, Bar 1 Racing have agreed to extend their commitment to the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes by extending their sponsorship by a further three years to 2030. The 2026 renewal will mark twenty years of support for the Nunthorpe by Coolmore.