The Aga Khan has presented the Irish Turf Club with the money to buy a hotel with an estimated value of almost €15 million .
The deal to purchase the Stand House Hotel at the Curragh was completed two weeks ago and the remarkable gesture was announced last night.
"The gift is enormous but the donor is a very special person whose love for Irish racing is unrivalled," said the Turf Club senior steward Mr Ray Rooney.
Any images of bowler-hatted stewards serving meals and making beds can be dismissed, however, as the hotel has been bought to allow a major grandstand development at the Curragh Racecourse to go ahead.
The Stand House is situated at the rear of the present grandstand and that has prevented any previous expansion of the much-criticised facilities at the headquarters of the Irish racing industry.
As a result of the Turf Club acquiring the hotel, it is possible the road at the back of the stands could be rerouted to allow building to begin on a completely new stand. All or part of the hotel could be integrated into the new facility.
Mr Rooney estimates building will begin in three years, with a new stand possibly in position by 2007.
The Aga Khan, who owned this year's Irish Derby winner Alamshar and who also won the Curragh classic in 1981 with the legendary Shergar, has promised the services of his French-based architects for the new grandstand project.
The announcement of the deal was made at last night's Moyglare Stud dinner at the K-Club.
One local estate agent valued the Stand House at up to €15 million which is good news for the owners, Jack and Jenny Tierney, who will continue to operate the hotel until next August.
This is not the first time the Aga Khan has intervened in the development of a racecourse.
The previously ailing Chantilly track outside Paris has also benefited from his largesse.
