26 RACECOURSE CHALLENGE – Numbers 14 to 17

A VERY busy week of racing started at a wet Kilbeggan, a regular haunt of mine on a Friday evening after we have put the paper to bed. One of two Irish racecourses serving up just National Hunt fare, it is managed very efficiently by Paddy Dunican. For Paddy it is not a job running this midlands venue, but a vocation and a passion.

I had an ‘official’ duty on the evening too – to present the trophy for The Irish Farmers Journal Novice Hurdle, sponsored by our sister paper. I stepped in as most of the IFJ team were attending the Balmoral Show. Thanks to the paddock MC Robbie Irwin I got a few minutes on the public address system to talk about our two papers.

On Sunday it was a case of visiting a racecourse which stages only flat racing. Currently undergoing a complete transformation, I was keen to hear what racegoers thought of the Curragh facilities. It was the second of a two-day meeting, so some teething problems had already been addressed.

Overall, the reaction was positive to the temporary facilities. They are of the highest quality, and many remarked that they were “better than the previous permanent buildings!” Paul Carey took me on a tour of the kitchens and hospitality areas. So much work goes on in the background that we never see. John Coughlan Catering is in place, along with some local suppliers providing racegoers with food and beer, and the company received many plaudits this year for their food at Punchestown.

The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed TD, was opening the new stabling facilities at Killarney races on Sunday and I travelled down the following evening to see them for myself. Micheál Lucey (O’Luasa) and Peter O’Reilly, in addition to the chairman Gerard Coughlan, extended a warm welcome. Willie McCreery was very complimentary of the work of the Killarney track team.

My final visit within six days was to Clonmel on Thursday evening. The visit was preceded by a stop off at Hickeys in the town for some of their famed barmbrack (a recommended visit). The sun shone for most of the evening and this is a track that enjoys loyal support. Great to meet up with many old friends, especially Tony Slattery and his daughter Mary Boland who teaches at RACE.