Festival Team
Meet the people who make the Limerick Christmas Racing Festival a festive success
FOR Val O’Connell, Clerk of the Course at Limerick Racecourse, his job is just that bit more sentimental.
A proud native of the Treaty County and former jockey, Val rode his first winner at the old racecourse in Green Park, meaning every time he turns up for work he’s reminded of his glory days.
Nowadays, Val has an array of responsibilities which it could be said have a part to play in the glory of today’s jockeys.
He is the man responsible for the general arrangements of each meeting, ensuring all courses are inspected and safe to race, that ambulances and medical and veterinary personnel are in position, and in cases of emergencies, he makes the final decision on bypassing fences or hurdles.
However, Val’s preparation for the Christmas Racing Festival is slightly more stressful each year as weather concerns raise their head, although he says the dry summer this year has left the course in top condition.
“It’s happened in the past,” he recalls. “We had to call off Stephen’s Day one year because of frost, and another time we lost two days because of rain.”
He adds: “When this does happen, we look to reschedule for another day, but that can be hard because there’s so much racing around Christmas time.
“It really depends on the weather, but this year we’ve been lucky to have a very dry summer. Generally you’re concerned that frost will make the track too hard and heavy rain will leave it waterlogged.”
Not only is Val’s job weather-dependent, it means his Christmas is too.
“Christmas goes out the window,” he laughs. “Look, it depends on the weather, but I have had to go out for inspections on Christmas day before. It’s all part of the job and hopefully I won’t have to this year.”
Typically, Val carries out course inspections two days before meetings to check fences, hurdles and quality of the track.
Another inspection will be called on the morning of the race if there has been rain overnight and Val, his team and Met Éireann will be in constant contact.
If given the all clear, it’s then up to Val to make sure all ambulances, vets and doctors are on site and in position, everything is screened prior to racing, fence stewards are in place and jockeys get to the parading area on time.
However, Val’s job is made easier by the experienced team at Limerick Racecourse led by Track Foreman Dave Buston, who agrees it’s a team effort getting the course in pristine conditioncomeracetime.
“I’d say 90pc of the work is done before each meeting,” he says. “We have a very expe- rienced team and, in fact, the person who has been here the shortest has still been here for ten years, so that wealth of experience goes a long way.”
Dave, from Patrickswell, has been Foreman for 15 years.
His and Val’s jobs often interlink, with Dave responsible for moving running rails, building fences and fertilising the track, among other jobs.
Aeration, which involves piercing the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots, is vital to track quality.
“You’re always compacting the track with the machinery, so it’s about counteracting that compaction through aeration,” Dave explains.
“My whole season is fairly repetitive in terms of doing the same work just at different times of the year. But I’d say in the lead-up to a four-day event like the Christmas Festival you might just have to do
‘Once you’ve finished the first day you’re racing to move running rails and to ensure fresh ground for the following day. You’re really working from dawn until dark’
something a little earlier or later than you wish.”
Val says: “Dave and his team do an absolutely splendid job and have everything in super condition for each meeting.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, especially over a fourday festival, because once you’ve finished the first day you’re racing to move running rails and to ensure fresh ground for the following day. You’re really working from dawn until dark.”
Both Limerick men agree that punters are in for a fantastic festival of top-quality racing.
Val says: “Limerick Racecourse has come on a huge amount in the last few years and one thing about this year is that it’s the first year we have a Grade 1 on day one. There’s a Grade B chase on the second day, a Grade 3 hurdle on the third day and a Grade 2 hurdle on the fourth day, so it’s really a great boost for the track itself.”
He adds: “I can definitely vouch for the course, being from Limerick, and I have very fond memories, including my first win on the old course.”
The main goal of both men, however, is to ensure the safety of the jockeys and horses over the four-day festival.
“Bottom line is safety,” says Val. “If it’s unsafe to race then we will make a call, but we’re hoping for a smooth festival this year.”