About the International Racing Bureau
The International Racing Bureau Ltd was founded by the late David Hedges back in 1968. He anticipated the expansion of horse racing within European countries, and between continents, and set up the IRB to assist with the development of international racing.
The IRB was founded with an Editorial Service that provided results and copy to newspapers, magazines and broadcasters around the world; a Trainer's Service assisting trainers to nominate and run their horses overseas and a Racecourse Service that promoted and recruited runners for international events.
The IRB was acquired by its current directors in 1979, and since that time has been at the cutting edge in the expansion of international and intercontinental racing. Amongst its many achievements have been staging the first intercontinental telecast between Aqueduct, New York and London in 1980; the blueprinting and inauguration of the Arlington Million as well as the planning of the Japan Cup in 1981 and the Breeders' Cup in 1984; initiation, development and launching of the Racing Post in 1986; instigating international racing in Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Brazil, Dubai and Singapore as well as planning and executing the launch of the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup.
In the short space of just under 40 years the International Racing Bureau has assisted the expansion of international racing illustrated by the fact that in the 1970's less than half a dozen thoroughbreds each year would cross continental boundaries. Now in the new Millennium well over three hundred horses each year travel between continents for the world's top racing events and the number keeps growing.