Listowel loses a day from racing festival
Wednesday September 08 2010
EXCITEMENT in the build-up to the Listowel Races has been tempered by the news the course is to lose one of its three June days, as was confirmed by Horse Racing Ireland this week.
The loss of the June meeting's Saturday comes as a blow to the Race Company. It was dropped by Horse Racing Ireland based on attendance figures for the last June meeting, whichi was the day Kerry played Cork in the Munster semi final.
"Obviously under the current economic circumstances cuts have to be made, but we're unhappy with the loss of the day," Listowel Race Company director Pat Healy told The Kerryman. "We think it's unfair as our figures were down for the Saturday due to the fact that Kerry were playing Cork on the day and a lot of our punters would have gone to the game and were setting their money aside for it." Roughly 2,000 people attended the Island on the Saturday of the June meeting this year, Mr Healy said.
Listowel was granted the Saturday over two years ago when the HRI came to allocate the 10 days lost with the closure of Tralee racecourse. It immediately became a kernel of the company's business plan as part of a major recent push to redevelop key parts of the course to increase business.
"However, we have a lot to be happy about as we retain the Sunday and Monday on the Whit Weekend which is one of the prime weekends of the year so we still have a great meeting. That obviously means the HRI recognise the great job we're doing. There's some speculation that 10 more days may be lost to the national racing calendar next year so we would hope to be exempted from that as well," Mr Healy added.
Meanwhile Listowel Races prepare to host upwards of 90,000 punters starting on Sunday next with the commencement of the 2010 racing festival. With the track and course facilities in peak condition, all eyes are on the island and the heavens.
"We had 90,000 through our gates last year and if we can equal that with things the way they are at present we will be thrilled. TG4 are broadcasting for six days, Ladies' Day is Friday and the excitement is building around that alone and the track has never been better so there's a lot to look forward to," Mr Healy said.
- DONAL NOLAN DNOLAN@KERRYMAN.IE
