'The response was unbelievably kind and generous' - Honeysuckle silks unveiled at Irish National Stud

Silks carried by Honeysuckle to four Cheltenham Festival victories and 13 Grade 1 triumphs were unveiled in the Irish Racehorse Experience at the Irish National Stud this week. 

Having been worn by Rachael Blackmore to win two Champion Hurdles and three Irish Champion Hurdles on the brilliant mare, the blue and white colours sold for €105,000 at the Goffs Punchestown Sale in May to support ChildVision’s new indoor equine centre in Drumcondra, Dublin. 

The centre is named in memory of Jack de Bromhead, the son of Honeysuckle's trainer Henry, who was killed in a pony racing accident in September 2022. A donation point for ChildVision has also been installed under the exhibit. 

Blackmore was among those present at the unveiling with Dan Flinter and Cathal Beale, chief executive and chairman of the Irish National Stud, ChildVision's chief executive Barry Sheridan, Peter Molony, Henry and Heather de Bromhead and Chris Jones, family friend of the De Bromheads and a prominent racehorse owner.

Molony made the winning bid at Punchestown on behalf of ‘The Friends of the Irish National Stud’. Honeysuckle's owner, Kenny Alexander, offered the silks worn for her 13 Grade 1 victories to fund the centre's operating costs.

Left to right: Dan Flinter, Barry Sheridan, Peter Molony, Rachael Blackmore, Henry and Heather de Bromhead, Chris Jones and Cathal Beale at the unveiling

The new indoor facility at the ChildVision campus will give children who are blind, multi-disabled and neurodiverse access to the best global equine activities in a supportive and purpose-designed environment. 

It will also allow the equine team and volunteers to extend their services to reach more children over a longer period making a life-changing difference, especially through the winter months and in bad weather.

A campaign led by Jones, with agreement of the De Bromhead family, reached the €1,000,000 donation target required to complete the equine therapeutic centre last December.

Jones said: "I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit ChildVision last summer and to see first-hand the therapeutic impact horses can have on children with complex needs. 

The Irish National Stud guests with Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and Beef Or Salmon

"I knew that Henry and Heather already had a connection to ChildVision and knowing that many friends and family members wanted to find some way to mark Jack’s love of horses in a tangible way, the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre concept came to fruition. 

"The response to my call for donations was unbelievably kind and generous. It’s a testament to the high regard the De Bromheads are held in that we are in a position to make the equine centre at ChildVision in Jack’s name a reality."

The Irish National Stud is donating €1 to the centre from each jar sold of its newly branded 'Honeysuckle Honey', from 100kg of the product from the site's hives each year.

Read more:

Honeysuckle silks to be displayed at Irish National Stud following six-figure sale at Goffs Punchestown 

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