CLONMEL racecourse, also known as Powerstown Park, is set for a busy few months up to the end of the year, staging two meetings in September and one each for the remaining months of the year.

The Tipperary track already has seven meetings under its belt this year, and all bar one of the dozen fixtures for the year are run on a Thursday. The feature race of the year is at their November meeting and this is the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase.

This race is a very popular one with trainers and its timing in mid-November is perfect. Consequently it attracts a high calibre of runner, as can be gauged by a look at the list of previous winners. British runners are not uncommon either and Henrietta Knight won the race in 2003 with Edredon Bleu, ridden by Jim Culloty.

Last year Noel Meade used the race as a seasonal introduction for Road To Riches and this was the trainer’s third success in the last decade.

Willie Mullins won back-to-back editions of the race with Arvika Ligeonniere and Champagne Fever before that, while such stalwarts as Sizing Europe, War Of Attrition, Beef Or Salmon, Moscow Express, Dorans Pride (on four consecutive occasions) and Imperial Call have all won it in the last 20 years. This speaks volume for the high regard in which the race is held.

has it all

DJ Histon is the racecourse manager, while Eugene Cooney is in charge of marketing. They will tell you that the course has it all, set in beautiful surrounds, with a warm and friendly atmosphere, and it has an impressive racing pedigree. The roll of honour for the year’s main race will confirm that.

The racecourse shares one key ingredient with almost every racecourse of its size in Ireland – a strong reliance on the support of locals.

Situated where it is, Clonmel can claim ‘locals’ not only from Tipperary but also neighbouring counties such as Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny and Limerick. With three airports within an hour of the course, it is also easily accessible from Britain.

Next year will see the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club. It was formed at a time when Clonmel, along with other provincial tracks, was facing the danger of closure. Their formation and support was a key element in convincing the authorities of the viability of the local track and it didn’t just survive, but it thrived.

test of time

With a proud record of racing for more than 150 years, Clonmel has stood the test of time. It has certainly not rested on its laurels and seven years ago a number of refurbishments were carried out.

Now they are looking to do more, with plans before Horse Racing Ireland, they are hoping to be able to tap into the Capital Development Programme.

This would allow the racecourse to carry out work on many different areas, and these include the jockey’s area, facilities for the Turf Club stewards, the ambulance room, canteen, sauna, the valet’s area, pressroom, and the toilets and showers. Fingers are crossed for a positive nod on this.

One thing about a day’s racing in Clonmel is that it affords visitors to the area an opportunity to enjoy some of Ireland’s most beautiful countryside. Clonmel itself is an historic town, but it and the racecourse enjoy the background of the Comeragh Mountains, in the valley of the River Suir.

The vista from all areas of the enclosure at Clonmel is worth enjoying.

If you have never been, or it has been a while, maybe a visit to their next meeting on September 8th would be a date for the diary, and if Tipperary win the Senior Hurling All Ireland on September 4th there will be free admission for anyone wearing the ‘Blue & Gold’.