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At The Races have just reported that it will be announced tomorrow that there will be no more racing at Tralee
They can close them all down, The Curragh, Leopardstown, Fairyhouse and Punchestown excepted.
I don’t see a projected last date of racing given in the article – is there likely to be one last Festival next year, say?
I haven’t been racing in Ireland yet, but it’d be a bit remiss not to take in a meeting there before it closes, assuming that isn’t already Game Over.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
ATR said no more racing at Tralee wether they will do a farewell i dont know its business no sentiment where business and money are concerned
The North Kerry Foxhounds are bringing racing back to Tralee for the first time since the racecourse closed in October 2008 and the hunt host a point to point at the venue on Sunday.
Local rider Gerry Mangan, who rides with the hunt, knows the track better than most and partnered his first racecourse winner on Skidroe Joe at the course in September ’08. Mangan stated “the North Kerry Foxhounds, and its Chairman Mike O’Sullivan, decided to stage a meeting at the track this year and it goes ahead on Sunday with the old racecourse and facilities being used.”
He added “the track itself has been farmed with cattle since the racecourse’s closure but it is in smashing condition for Sunday where they will race over the old chase course, with 13 fences and two and a half circuits to complete. Frost would be the only worry for the meeting but hopefully we’ll avoid it.”
“The old weighroom, parade ring, stable-yard and car-parks are in full use on Sunday so there will be no tractors pulling cars out of fields!”
Mangan is a well regarded rider on the southern circuit and has 65 point to point winners (23 wins in the ‘07/08 season) ridden. However, the 26 year old has yet to make the breakthrough on the racecourse and states “I don’t have any good Open horse to ride this season but I do ride for Robert Tyner and Sean Ahern.
"I’ve no Cheltenham ride lined up at this stage but I am available to ride whenever anybody wants me in point to points or on the track. I work full-time for John Thomas McNamara’s breaking and pre-training yard in Co Limerick.”
http://www.irishracing.com/v5newsitem?prid=50696
Just think how many homes can stand unsold on a piece of land that size! They could build a
whole estate
of empty, unsold houses.
Only went to Tralee once and it already had the axe hanging above then. Had something of an unloved feel about it and I just don’t think it was well supported by the locals for whatever reason. Unlike Listowel and Killarney.
But it’s a shame it’s going.
Look at the dates lads.
The Austin Stack Park development never went ahead for obvious reasons so Ballybegan is still exactly how it was two and a half years ago. Great to hear that the old course will see some racing again, albeit only a p2p meeting.
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