PUNCHESTOWN will throw open the gates for its New Year’s Eve meeting.

The free admission initiative is sponsored by Tote and marks the completion of 175 years of racing at the venue.

The New Year’s Eve meeting is promising a festive and family-friendly atmosphere, with complimentary mince pies and mulled wine on arrival while stocks last, live music by the Ballymore Band and also free children’s entertainment.

Gates open from 11am with the first race going to post at approximately 12.30pm.

The Hay Café, The Feedroom and a selection of mobile eateries will provide snacks, barista coffee or a full hot food menu.

Racing book is ideal gift

SEARCHING for a last-minute Christmas gift for a racing person? Get them a copy of National Hunt and Point-to-Point Racing in Ireland - A History, by Frances Nolan. Running to 328 pages, it traces the evolution of jump racing in Ireland from the 17th century to the present day and is described as “the story of a people, a place, and their horses”.

Published by Four Courts Press, it is priced at €29.95 and is available in good bookshops.

Web: fourcourtspress.ie

Competition winners

WE were surprised by the high number of entries we received for last week’s Naas Races competition. The correct answer was Sean Mulryan and the five winners of a pair of tickets for the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle raceday on Sunday, January 4th are John Dunleavy, Aiden McGrath, Paul Cunningham, John Carroll and Brid O’Driscoll.

Thanks to all who entered and to Naas Racecourse for the tickets.