The British Ambassador, Veronica Sutherland, may not be a horsy woman (both she and her husband are theatre fans), but she has gone for the horsy theme to mark the British Presidency of the EU. When the powers that be in the six-month Presidency, which started on January 1st, sought ideas from ambassadors in each EU capital to mark their tenure, it was suggested that horseracing might be the thing here.
Consequently, the meeting at Leopardstown on Sunday April 19th has been taken over by the British Presidency, in association with the Government and the EU Commission and Parliament. Sponsors are being sought for all seven races and a VIP is expected from Britain, possibly a royal.
Britain's Europe day in Ireland will kick off with a reception at the residence in Glencairn and the VIPs will be taken down the road, or possibly across the fields, to the racetrack. Irish VIPs from the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, down, are expected at Leopardstown for the highprofile event. Beats what the British are doing in other countries - mostly seminars.