Ballinrobe Races launches its 2017 season Ballinrobe Racecourse launched its 2017 season this evening, with nine exciting and themed race days to look forward to from May 2nd to September 21st, comprising seven National Hunt meetings and two Flat meetings, with total prize-money of €920,000. There will be 11 feature races throughout the season, each with a prize-fund of between €20,000 and €40,000. Over 100 attended the launch including Michael Grassick, Chief Executive of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, Aiden Burns, Manager of the Association of the Irish Racehorse Owners Association, Leo Powell, Editor, Irish Field, Nessa Joyce, Office Manager, Irish European Breeders Fund, and sponsors McHale, Vaughan Shoes and Breaffy House Resort Racecourse Manager, John Flannelly, unveiled their plans for the 2017 season which includes the newly refurbished bars which were all upgraded during the winter. Planning permission has also been received for a new racecourse entrance, which will commence in September. This new phase of redevelopment is part of the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) racecourse capital development scheme, with HRI providing 40% of the total project cost. John Flannelly said: “We are delighted to launch our 2017 racing programme. Our customers are our number one priority here in Ballinrobe. We have just completed extensive refurbishment of our two public bars, which will greatly enhance the raceday experience, and works on a new racecourse entrance will get underway at the end of our season. Sponsorship is key to our success, with over 95% of our races sponsored, we very much appreciate the continued level of local sponsorship support.” The Breaffy House Resort Raceday will open Ballinrobe’s season on Tuesday evening, May 2nd. The County Mayo 4-star hotel is located in the heart of Castlebar, set in 90 acres of parkland. Now in their fourth year of sponsorship, one of the highlights of the Ballinrobe fixture list is the McHale Raceday on Tuesday May 30th, sponsored by specialist farm machinery company, McHale. The McHale Mayo National has increased in value from €30,000 to €40,000, making it the most valuable race at Ballinrobe this year. Vaughan Shoes will once again sponsor the ever-popular ladies day on June 27th. With shops in Ballinrobe, Claremorris and Castlebar, Vaughan Shoes is one of the leading shoe store chains in the west of Ireland, and judging the best dressed competition this year is TV fashion stylist, broadcaster and personal shopper, Marietta Doran. The best dressed lady will receive a cash prize of €1,500, with nine runner-up prizes. Family day at Ballinrobe Racecourse takes place on Monday July 24th with a whole host of free activities for children, including a bouncy castle, the front runner club, colouring competitions and face painting.
