Dowth goes back to its roots
BUILDING on the success of last year’s event which drew crowds of more than 3,000, this year’s point-to-point at Dowth Castle on October 30 will have an added flavour with the addition of the inaugural Country Fair.
This will be the first of its kind in Ireland and is expected to draw an even bigger crowd to the historic location in Co Meath.
Hosted at the ‘Old Racecourse’ in Dowth, where races were originally held in the 1700s, the first of six races will begin at 12.30pm.
The Meath and Tara Point-to-Point Committee is expecting the calibre of horses racing to be of the same standard as last year, after which one of the winners, Tomngerry, was sold at the prestigious Tattersalls November Cheltenham Sale for £30,000.
He later went on to win his next four starts on the track.
Last year’s Boyne Valley Food Series proved a big success and this year the Boyne Valley Artisan Food Fair will feature Michelin star chef Richard Corrigan — as well as a shopping village with Irish country lifestyle brands and a range of activities for children.
On the eve of the races, the De- venish Charity Ball in aid of their partner charity ‘Farm Africa’ will take place in a marquee in the middle of the racecourse.
Speaking at the launch, Owen Brennan, executive chairman of the Devenish Group which is hosting the event, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating what promises to be a great day of racing, food and fun for all the family.
We were delighted to resurrect racing on the ‘Old Racecourse’ and open up Dowth for the local and wider community to enjoy, and hope to build on the success of last year’s event.”