THE stands selling prosecco and ice cream did the best trade on Sunday as, finally, the Curragh got the best of the weather on Irish Champions Weekend.

Showers and breezy conditions had been forecast but in fact we were treated to strong sunshine and barely a puff of wind. A perfect day to mark the first time four Group 1 races were staged on a single card in this country.

True, an early glance at the Sunday card suggested that Leopardstown had probably stolen the headlines a day earlier, but there was always a chance that the Curragh would provide its own stories, and so it proved.

Determined to be positive, we deliberately avoided the paddock before the 26-runner first race so we wouldn’t be tempted to make any comments about the parade ring. However, we are cornered by two female racehorse owners who insist we report the shoddy treatment they say they received at the entrance.

There may be a good reason for searching handbags at sporting events but it’s not common practice at racemeetings and so bound to prove irksome, especially when it happens after standing in a queue for an unusually long time.

Based on reports received personally and through correspondence received by The Irish Field, it’s fair to say that this has been a recurring theme since the new management team was put in place. ‘Regulars’ feel unappreciated and say there is lack of acknowledgement, goodwill and discretion when things go wrong.

BETTING HALL

With that out of the way, let’s get back to what was as good a day’s racing as you can hope to get.

As usual the Betting Hall [tent] was busy and the people in here cared more about the closing stages of the Prix Vermeille than cheering any ‘legends of the turf’ being honoured in the parade ring. “Go on, Wayne! Go on, Wayne!” roared one punter as Magic Wand hit the front at ParisLongchamp. Silence fell as Kitesurf swooped.

At one table sat four pensioners eating sandwiches from a Quality Street box and Rich Tea biscuits from a Stork margarine tub. From Athboy in Co Meath, they were having a cheap day out as they had been given free tickets by a passer-by outside. They like staying in the betting tent “because it’s lively, you see all the races and anyway my husband has gout so he can’t walk far.” Fair enough.

One of the day’s best moments came after the Moyglare Stud Stakes won by Skitter Scatter. She received a very warm reception on returning to the parade ring. Bred and owned by the Rogers family of Airlie Stud, the filly is still regarded as representing ‘the small guys’, and both trainer Patrick Prendergast and jockey Ronan Whelan are swamped by well-wishers after their maiden Group 1 victory.

Among the first to congratulate Prendergast is fellow trainer Sheila Lavery. Her runner Lady Kaya finished second after looking sure to win and it says plenty about her that she seemed genuinely delighted for her colleague.

Prendergast himself is stumped for words. “I’m overwhelmed,” he tells MC Robbie Irwin, adding that he is not offended by the suggestion he is not a big trainer.

“It’s no secret that our numbers are not what we want them to be. But I have great staff and family support. I’m just so delighted and proud of the filly. I’m just a cog in the wheel, I did nothing special. She is honest and easy to train.”

The Curragh decided earlier this year not to publish attendance figures and so we don’t know how many people were present. Having walked continuously through the enclosures over five hours, this reporter can only conclude that there were considerably fewer people on site than there were for the Derby. Maybe that is to be expected.

The beer garden area was quiet by comparison with Derby day and there were always a few vacant tables available in the bistro. However, some colleagues felt there was a “good crowd” and it’s true that the temporary stand was full to capacity for most races.

In the Grand Hall restaurant, you had to be out of the traps quicker than Havana Grey to grab a seat and have the staying power of Flag Of Honour to hold onto it.

Some members of a racing club were having a right old day out: “Yeah, we’ve been everywhere, training grounds, studs, Coolmore, we get to see our horses galloping, visit the parade ring and ‘own’ a winner for a few quid a day. What’s not to like?”

The Queen’s Room adds some ‘old world’ glamour to the lawns above the parade ring. There was a bit of congestion around the crossway where racegoers are halted while horses enter and exit. Surely this will be avoided when the job is finished?

TURNOVER UP

Bookmaker Gerry Collins was pleased with turnover which he said was much better than at Leopardstown, where he held only €2,100 over the entire day. Business was better on Sunday “but the results are bad – five of the first six favourites have won.”

Up the line, Richard Gernon wished he stayed in Listowel. “We got great results there all week. We won a small bit at Leopardstown too but the results didn’t go our way.”

Towering over the betting ring, the new grandstand continues to evolve. What was a shell back in June is now starting to fill out its frame. A bulky glass-fronted area has appeared at the back of the development and it looks like it could fit plenty of racegoers. Let’s hope it can be filled on the big days at least.

We’re told the architects have put in twice as many loos for women and children.

The day ended on a bright note as the owners of last race winner Hamley brought the house down and reminded us all why racing is so thrilling. Video footage of the syndicate members surging forward in unison and roaring their filly home quickly went viral. As an image to promote the Curragh and Irish Champions Weekend it’s a lot better than that ‘doormen’ billboard.

And so this two-year ‘awkward’phase at the Curragh draws to a close. There is absolutely no doubt but that the finished grandstand and enclosures – even the parade ring – will be world-class. We just have to figure out how to get more people interested in seeing brilliant flat racing in person.