The Dublin Horse Show got off to a flying start at the RDS today with blazing sunshine, queues forming at the entrance from early morning and Springsteen fever raging.
Bruce Springsteen’s daughter Jessica is competing in the showjumping, representing the US, and hopes are high that the singer will appear in the RDS where he has performed many sold-out shows.
It’s 150 years since the first Dublin Horse Show was held, but it did not go ahead every year due to factors such as world wars, so this is the 141st event.
Some 100,000 visitors are expected to attend before the show ends on Sunday. There are 125 competitions and classes with prize money of almost €1 million on offer.
Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke arrived in splendour in his gold carriage at noon and recalled how he had come to the show twice, many years before.
“It’s a great boost for tourism and great for the economy,” he said. “It’s as good as the Dubs will be on Saturday night.”
The lord mayor was hoping to bump into the Boss on his travels as he had previously attended a Springsteen concert at the venue. "It would be great if he arrives, great for the country. It would be a great boost, great for the RDS and great for the show. Hopefully he won't let us down," he said, in a nod to the Garth Brooks controversy when the singer cancelled his Croke Park shows.
Tomorrow is Ladies’ Day at the RDS while the Nations’ Cup is on Friday.
