SUE Phelan is stepping down as manager of Tramore Racecourse after 17 years in the job.

“The seed was sown when I saw Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh retiring at Punchestown,” she explained. “Then Dr Adrian McGoldrick announced his retirement plans and Dessie Scahill signed off as commentator – it forced me to ask myself if it was time to make a move.”

A €1 million redevelopment at the track is more than two-thirds complete and Phelan says the racecourse is on a solid financial footing. “I’ll be around to ensure a smooth changeover,” she added.

Phelan joined Tramore Racecourse in 1999 shortly after a local consortium acquired the track from the Fleming family.

She became manager in 2001. The traditional New Year’s Day meeting at Tramore has seen several ‘firsts’ recorded.

“We staged the first meeting of the Millennium in Europe and we were the first to have the euro and the ban on smoking indoors. We’ve also had our dramas – some slips and trips.”

Her favourite day in the job came in August 2015. “It was the night of Andrew McNamara’s retirement as a jockey and everything went right. I’ll never forget it.”

Phelan says she has been overwhelmed with good wishes since revealing her plans earlier this month. She has been studying for a Masters degree in Agriculture and is lecturing part-time at Kildalton College.

“I am particularly interested in organic farming and I would love to help promote some small enterprises in that sector.”