NAVAN was a major beneficiary of recent upgrades made to the flat racing programme in Ireland and this year it will stages a couple of new listed races, primarily aimed at stayers. This was a further boost to the Co Meath track and followed on from the racecourse benefiting from the reorganisation of the fixture list due to the redevelopment of the Curragh.

Racecourse manager Peter Killeen was delighted on both counts. “I think it says a lot about the quality of the track and the excellent work carried out by the track team. When you have some of the top trainers, both National Hunt and flat, and indeed some of the top jockeys passing really positive comments, it’s really satisfying. There is the saying that ‘it takes a good horse to win at Navan’ and I believe there is truth in it, as Navan form generally stands up well. Our uphill finish definitely finds them out and has been compared to the climb at Cheltenham.”

A number of potential Cheltenham challengers will be out at one of Navan’s flagship meetings of the year on Sunday week, the 19th, when three graded races will be run. Killeen and his team are anticipating a good turn-out of horses and racegoers. “Yes we are really excited about what is one of our bigger days. Ladbrokes have been a great sponsor and the feature Boyne Hurdle throws up some high-class winners.”

The current NH racing season was launched in conjunction with Fairyhouse last November with a star-studded line up of panellists and has worked on a number of fronts, as Killeen explained. “We will definitely be looking at doing something similar for 2017. It gave us an opportunity to try and give something back to all our patrons and the panel members were so generous with their time. The feedback we got on the evening was terrific. I’d like to think that it also contributed to the growth in our attendances.”

In common with every other racecourse manager, Killeen is indebted to his track team and Clerk of the Course Paddy Graffin. “We actually raced every month last year when we took on an additional fixture, which I think put us on the map as being the only track to race in the country every month in the year. Navan is lucky to have such an experienced ground staff team who, while utilising every part of the track, would never put the quality of the track in jeopardy.”

The facilities at Navan are utilised on non-racedays, with a driving range and an adventure/sports park which attracts a lot of young people. Killeen likes that this brings people to Navan who might never otherwise have visited. Getting more people through the turnstiles has seen the racecourse focus on theme days, and this will be a feature again in the year ahead.

Paying customers have seen many improvements made to the facilities, something that remains a work in progress. Patrons at the next meeting will be the first to use the new parade ring seating that has been installed, while upgrading the main public bar is the next focus for a revamp.

Increased local support for racing is welcomed by Killeen. “Coolmore, Ladbrokes, Lynn Lodge, the Tote and the EBF would be our feature sponsors, but what is encouraging is that we are seeing a swell in local businesses coming on board recently. I feel it’s critically important to attract local sponsors as it helps develop relationships within the community.”

While safety of horses and jockeys each day they race is Killeen’s priority every time he opens for business, he has one wish for Irish racing. “I would love to see some sort of incentive for punters who are betting on track. When there was tax-free betting for punters on track it gave them a bit of an edge for going to the trouble of actually going to the races, as opposed to staying at home.”