WHAT a great idea by Grangecon Tidy Towns who recently unveiled a unique sculpture created by internationally renowned sculptor Rupert Till depicting a wire horse and rider, in recognition of over 100 years of horse breeding, training and racing in the village.

The village is the former home of trainers Paddy Sleator and Francis Flood, and currently home to the hugely successful Barronstown Stud, owned by Diane and David Nagle, and Grangecon Stud owned by Rick Barnes.

Coakleys on the go

DENIS Coakley, our horse and pony racing correspondent, continues to show his ability as a licensed trainer. He has rejuvenated handicapper Park Row to win at two recent Dundalk fixtures.

And last Friday week was also Denis and Maria’s 29th wedding anniversary. Denis are you taking her anywhere else apart from Dundalk?

Beautiful baby

‘PUPPY’ Power and his wife Hannah welcomed their first baby, Emma, into the world this week. Congratulations to all families.

No taste like home

TV chef Catherine Fulvio featured former trainer Peter Hill and his wife Grainne in her series Tastes Like Home on RTÉ One last Wednesday. Peter and Grainne’s lives are split between Jeju, South Korea and Newbridge, Co Kildare. Grainne recruited Catherine to learn how to make a dish that reminds Peter of home and brought it to him in South Korea. Catch it online until November 2nd. www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/tastes-like-home.

New fundraising

THE Drogheda Memorial Fund (DMF) has, over many years, organised the sale of Christmas cards and calendars to raise funds to support racing people in need. The Turf Club initially took responsibility for the production, sale and distribution of the products until three years ago when Irish Injured Jockeys took over that role, with the proceeds still going to the DMF.

This year it has been decided to discontinue the Christmas card and calendar campaign due to the decrease in card and calendar sales.

In place of the traditional Christmas campaign, the DMF has teamed up with Irish Injured Jockeys and the Irish Horse Welfare Trust and collectively they are organising an exciting new fundraising initiative. This fundraiser will be in the form of a luncheon, an address by a celebrity guest speaker, and an online auction, which will take place in January 2019.

The Drogheda Memorial Fund would sincerely like to thank everyone who purchased their cards and calendars over the years as well as the sellers who stocked and sold the products.