The 133rd Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show opened yesterday with a commitment from the chief executive of the Royal Dublin Society that its €100 million building programme would not interfere with either this or any future show.
Michael Duffy said the first of the 50,000sq ft buildings at the Simmonscourt extension would be finished early next year and there had been no complaints from those taking part in this year's show about loss of ground.
He rejected the allegation that the society had become a property development company and said the developments were in place to enhance the foundation activities of the society - the promotion of agriculture, sciences and arts.
He said with a prize fund of €720,000 and a usual attendance of around 80,000 people over the course of the week, Dublin Horse Show was one of the major equestrian events in the world.
The Puissance event carried the highest prize in the world of equestrian events at €36,000 and it was an event which people wanted to attend.
Entertainment and music events had been broadened to cater for all tastes.
Mr Duffy said it had planned the show on surveys carried out at previous shows.
Responding to criticisms that exhibitors had found it very expensive to take part in the event, Mr Duffy said the Dublin Horse Show had cost €3 million to stage and it was an expensive business.
"We try to be as cost-effective as we can and keep costs as low as we can and we review the costs after every show," he said.
The show was open for 10 hours each day and there were concessionary rates for families.
"It is very good value. If there were no horse show on at all, the 300 trade stands on their own constitute a major trade show in itself. It is very good value when you look at everything on display."
Mr Duffy also defended the additional charges to see the international jumping, saying the charges were comparable to charges at any international show of its kind.
He said "swamp fever" had not greatly affected the show. The visiting horses were segregated from the local horses and only three horses had had to be withdrawn.
The event, which was well attended on opening day, was formally opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Vincent Jackson, who made the trip to the grounds in the Lord Mayor's coach from the Mansion House.
Today is Ladies' Day and the top prize is €10,000, sponsored by Evian.
In the main arena, the top event will be the five-year-old event horse, sponsored by RKD Architects.