The four day July Festival meeting at Killarney proved a great success, with increased crowds enjoying the brilliant sunshine and helping to produce record betting figures.
The attendance figures were up each day, and there was a real carnival atmosphere at this scenic venue. The racecourse secretary Michael Doyle was delighted with the meeting saying: 'The turnover is up considerably on last year. For example, the bookmaker figure was #315,000 (up 55%) on Monday, and the following day was up 90% at #385,000. We had a Tote aggregate record on Thursday of #87,400.'
Doyle added: 'I must give a special vote of thanks for the support we have received from owners and trainers. It is the first time I can remember such large fields right through the four days.' There was certainly a real `buzz` about the track this year compared with recent Festivals here, and Doyle deserves credit for Killarney `turning the corner` - albeit with a helping hand from the sun god. 'We are starting to get the results now of a five year marketing plan, and the new stand (opened last July) has been a great addition,' said Doyle.
There were a couple of negatives from the meeting. The exit of the car park resembled a stock car race as vehicles came from literally every angle to get out the front gate. The proximity of the course to the town is always going to cause traffic congestion but the problem has been greatly exacerbated this year as the car park on the Muckross road is no longer available.
The ground description on the final day was changed to good (from good to firm) after the overnight watering significantly changed conditions near the inside rail. The watering was obviously essential due to the abnormally hot weather but the camber on the track channeled the water to the inner.
Charlie Swan used the conditions to his advantage in the opening two races by keeping both his mounts wide throughout for the much faster ground. The Cloughjordan trainer completeda great day by saddling Aboriginal to take the featured Dawn Milk Run Handicap, and the Be My Native gelding is likely to be aimed next at the GPT Handicap on the opening evening of the Galway Festival.
Ballybrit was also on Frances Crowley`s mind after Moscow Express took the feature chase on Monday. The eight-year-old gelding is on course for a repeat bid in the Plate, although he didn`t need to be on top form to justify prohibitive odds here.
Austin Leahy will not remember Killarney 2000 as fondly as most. The Limerick trainer saddled six seconds during the week, or six and a half if you include At His Best dead-heating for first on Tuesday. The four-year-old gelding turned out again on the final day of the meeting, with Fran Berry producing his mount with a perfectly timed challenge inside the final furlong, after which Leahy sighed: 'I suppose that numbs the pain a bit!'
The return of veteran trainer Paddy Prendergast to the winner`s enclosure was another welcome sight atKillarney. Avoid The Rush was given a power-packed drive by Stephen Craine to snatch the spoils on Monday, with the Curragh handler commenting in typically jocular form: 'He`s as auld as myself, with as many aches and pains!' Prendergast doubled up the following day in the ladies race where Moll Hackabout justified favouritism under Liz Doyle.
Killarney may have enjoyed something of a resurgence but Kilbeggan continues to progress in record breaking fashion. The Elan Midland National is their feature event of the year, and a crowd approaching 13,000 came through the turnstiles. The Tote aggregate was also a course record of #149,569, nearly #18,000 higher than the previous best at this meeting last year.
Harry Rogers saddled by far his biggest winner since taking out a training licence last year when Livadiya belied odds of 20/1 in the #50,000 Golden Pages Handicap at Leopardstown on Saturday. The former jump jockey shared a double with Eddie Ahern on the day with Aljay alsoscoring.
