LISTOWEL is the latest racecourse to unveil its new development, and well in time for their racing highlight of the year, the Harvest Festival. The €1.3 million dining and hospitality facility was officially opened on Wednesday by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD before an invited audience of more than 250 people.
The 158th Harvest Festival takes place over seven days from Sunday, September 11th to Saturday, September 17th and the highlight of the week’s racing will be the €175,000 Guinness Kerry National on Wednesday. Last year’s race was won by Rogue Angel from Urano and Rule The World, and the winner and third went on to land the Irish and Aintree Grand Nationals subsequently. This year’s race is expected to be no less competitive.
Among the other racing features of the week-long meeting are the €55,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle, while the Lartigue Hurdle will be run in honour of the late Liam Healy, one of Ireland’s leading racing photographers and a native of the town.
Visitors to the racecourse during the week were treated to a new building that complements the existing facilities and yet is very modern and contemporary in its design. On the ground floor visitors have the Old Weir Food Hall, while on the upper level The Riverside Bar has a fine viewing area that overlooks the parade ring.
Horse Racing Ireland provided funding of over €600,000 for the project from its Racecourse Capital Development Scheme, and while construction only commenced in January, the project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.
HRI’s chief executive Brian Kavanagh praised the work of the Listowel Race Company, saying; “they are constantly seeking to upgrade their facilities and this marvellous new addition will ensure that Listowel remains one of the most important fixtures in the Irish racing calendar.”
Minister Creed concurred with Kavanagh. He said; “These beautiful surroundings will enhance the overall visitor experience and will draw racing fans in greater numbers. Festivals are an essential part of rural life and the Listowel Harvest Festival is the autumn highlight of the Irish racing calendar, drawing crowds to the Kingdom from all over the country.”
The chairman of Listowel Race Company David Fitzmaurice paid tribute to the many people who had contributed to the project, not least of which were his fellow directors, the sub-committee formed to oversee the project, and Brenda Daly who took over the position of Secretary of the racecourse in succession to her late father Brendan. Commenting on the new development and plans for the future, he said at the opening: “Listowel Race Company sees this new development as a huge asset for racegoers, making the whole raceday experience more enjoyable by increasing the overall standard of facilities at Listowel racecourse.
“It is part of our ongoing programme of development at the racecourse and the executive will continue to invest in upgrading all facilities going forward.”
CURRAGH UPDATE
The biggest development programme in Irish racing, that of the Curragh Racecourse, has finally got the green light from the planning authorities, Derek McGrath confirmed to The Irish Field yesterday that the project is on schedule and that final designs will be reviewed in the coming weeks. “I am delighted to say that we have got the planning go-ahead and everything is on track.”