OVER 4,000 ‘gangsters’ and their molls invaded Sligo Racecourse last Sunday for the track’s opening fixture of the year.

The Peaky Blinders-themed raceday has proved a massive hit with the public. Track manager Kathryn Foley reported: “We’ve been doing this for a few years. It started when one of our directors hosted a corporate event in his own box and asked his guests to dress up as characters from the TV show. We decided to extend the theme and people loved it. A lot of people from Northern Ireland travel on buses and we had stag parties and hen parties too. Loads of young people were there. The sun was shining and the ice cream van was very busy. Another racecourse has already been in touch to ask how we did it. To be honest, there is not much work involved!”

Sligo stages just nine racedays each year, the next one this Tuesday, May 12th. Kathryn added: “Our biggest days are the July 12th meeting, the two-day August fixture - especially Ladies Day - and Student Day in September.”