McManus family end Tipperary sponsorship

THE decision of Horse Racing Ireland to downgrade Tipperary’s John James McManus Memorial Hurdle in October From a Grade One to a Grade Two has raised more than a few eyebrows.

JP McManus and his family have sponsored the five National Hunt races on “Super Sunday” since 1997 and have decided to end their association with the meeting after this year.

The sponsorship was worth some €60,000 to the prize fund and the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle was the only Grade One run in Munster.