SATURDAY, MAY 27TH

CURRAGH

I REALLY can’t understand all the bad mouthing and unhappiness about the Curragh. Did the committee there not announce their intentions 18 months ago? Did we all not talk about it for weeks afterwards?

Some of us agreed with their decision others didn’t.

Let me tell you, first off, it’s not ideal for me working here during the renovations. The media tent – being more or less opposite the Ridgewood Pearl bronze at the main entrance – is a long way from the winning post, meaning I am working out of my car between races which is parked on the infield. Not ideal, but sure it could be worse. I manage to get my work done.

It’s not perfect for others in the game either. Take the jockeys valets. They had a few meetings with the powers that be here and put a plan in place to get on with it. Three meetings have now concluded and they are happy to get on with it and along with it, they have their routine by now.

It just drives me mad that as Irish people we love giving out. The weather is always awful cold or awful hot!

We rocked up here knowing that the place is being done up. Why are people happy then to knock the venue and the committee for doing their job? These people have short memories.

I love racing here, always have. My first Derby was Shergar’s and since then I count myself lucky to have witnessed some of the greats that have galloped around what the professionals call “the best racetrack in the world”. I have seen the great owners, jockeys and trainers ply their trade here. In my memories the weather is always sunny!

It’s a shocking day today and not a great experience for anyone in the game. But let’s take a look at the people that have the hard jobs every day, the stable staff. No fuss. No giving out. Soaking wet, but sure it’s part of it. No writing letters to papers. No shouting and roaring about the place being a glorified point-to-point. Getting on with it – fair play lads.

I feel sorry for the Curragh today. The weather would ruin any race day experience anywhere in the world. But typically Irish, instead of everyone putting their shoulder to the cause and driving on what do some of us do? Sure, they give out of course.

“I am never coming back,” says Ivan Yeats in the paper.

Why Ivan? Did you get a small bit damp under the stand watching the brilliant specimen that is Churchill majestically winning the Guineas on the track where it should be run?

Thank God you didn’t have to lead up a horse today like the hard working stable staff, or we might lose you from the game altogether.

I have read a good few opinions on the decision by the Curragh to continue to race, the best being by David Jennings (against) and Pat Keane (for) and I have to say I would echo all that Pat said in his Examiner piece. I am surprised that David has another go at the Curragh again today and, not talking behind his back, I will tell him when I see him. David manages to pick out a few unhappy customers including Ivan but I guarantee you if he probed a bit harder he could have dug up some customers happy to get on with it.

This isn’t going to be forever lads. The committee here will come up trumps. It will be majestic when finished and hopefully the following generations will embrace and enjoy their race day experience at headquarters. All we have to do for the next few months is, in Pat Keane’s words, “suck it up”.

MONDAY, MAY 29TH

BALLINROBE

The circus rolls into the Mayo venue for the next two days and myself and son Jack are on duty. I’ve said it before that this is the racetrack where you want to bring anybody from abroad that is going racing for the first time.

John Flannelly and his committee here have made massive improvements to both the track and the enclosure, but it still holds its ‘old Irish’ feel. We are blessed with gorgeous weather for both days and the scenery around the venue really stands out. Stone walls, cattle and sheep grazing and the mountain range all making for great pictures.

It’s also one of the last venues where lots of people in the game stay overnight, with Westport, Claremorris, Castlebar and Galway all being favourite haunts. We lodge in the Castlecourt in Westport and after a quick clean-up it’s always a treat to down a few gorgeous pints of stout in Moran’s Pub on Bridge St. With his old-style grocery shop/bar, Johnny Moran is a great racing and GAA man and, of course, there is always plenty of banter over the Sam Maguire.

Enjoying the craic tonight are bookmakers Baldy and Spartacus Flood, Marcella, Glenn, Colin and Pauric. Of course the Curragh debate comes up and, while its not an ideal situation for the bookmakers either, they are happy to put up with it with the weather again being their biggest bogey.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31ST

CURRAGH

I am at the Curragh this morning for the Horse Racing Ireland local schools day. This year they cater for a record number of children, with 550 turning up.

HRI put on half a dozen of these mornings around the country during the year and basically what they are doing is letting the kids get up close and personal with all aspects of a raceday experience (see A11).

They will visit five stations around the track, including having a jockey (today it is Paddy Flood) talking them through their routine in the weighroom and going through their equipment. Trainer Dick Brabazon is on hand too with his horse Korbous who has up and coming apprentice Zoe McMullan on board.

The kids really enjoy getting up close and personal with a racehorse. Throw in a walk on the racetrack, a lesson from farrier Eddie Shannon and a ride on a mechanical horse from the RACE team – they all enjoy it and hopefully the racing bug will be planted.

When I get home to Listowel, I pay a visit to The Island to walk the track as we are racing this Sunday and Monday and with rain forecast for the week it’s great news for the going and we are in a good place.

The world-renowned Listowel Writers’ Week also opens this evening in town and I call into John B’s where there is a great atmosphere, with landlord Billy in full flow entertaining all his overseas and local visitors with tales and poems.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1ST

EPSOM

I caught the Aer Lingus ironbird from Shannon to Heathrow ahead of the two-day Epsom Derby meeting. With Ballydoyle holding strong hands in both the Oaks and Derby, it’s fingers crossed for more Irish success on the big stage.

I lodge in the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch and it’s always a treat to take in the sights and sounds of London. While having a couple of beers in the Coal Hole Pub on the Strand, I meet up with two ladies from Wembley who are on their way to a show in the West End.

Would you believe they are friends with our pal ‘Las Vegas Tommy’ and sure it proves you can’t go anywhere without meeting up with someone that knows someone!

Both originally from Tipperary, they were frequent visitors to the Harvest Festival when living at home and thankfully they have only good to say about Listowel and the town.

It’s a good omen for our two days this weekend and fingers crossed that dreaded rain stays away!