Racing for €90,000 at Bettyville

THE SECOND Wexford race meeting of the year takes place at Bettyville on Friday, with the flag falling on the first of seven at 4.15 p.m., and the last one going off at 7.20 p.m., with over €90,000 on offer in prize money.

Here’s hoping the weather gods will smile a bit more on this fixture after the season opener on St. Patrick’s Day was hit by arctic temperatures.

The extended track looked quite well that day, with the newly-opened ground at the top end making it into a fine one mile three furlongs galloping circuit.

The opener on Friday is the €12,000 Welcome to Wexford Racecourse novice hurdle over three miles, followed at 4.50 p.m. by the €11,000 The Springtime in Wexford maiden hurdle over two and a half miles.

The Oulart Handicap Hurdle (rated 81 to 123) over two and a half miles is off at 5.20 p.m., with €16,000 on offer, and the final hurdle on the card is the €10,500 Slaney Estuary handicap (rated 80-95) over two miles, starting at 5.50 p.m.

There are two chases next, The Vinegar Hill Mares’ Beginners over two miles for €12,000 at 6.20 p.m., and the feature of the night, the €18,000 Boolavogue novices handicap over two and a half miles, goes off at 6.50 p.m.

The card concludes with the €11,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF mares’ bumper over two miles, and if the winning mare is eligible for the Weatherbys Ireland ITBA bonus scheme, €5,000 will be added to their purse.

SUPPORTERS’ CLUB: Racing fans should consider joining the Wexford Racecourse Supporters’ Club which has been raising funds and generally backing the track since 1987.

In attendance at that first meeting were Christy Murphy, Alan Cloney, Michael Murphy, and the late Stephen Banville, Jimmy O’Keeffe and Martin Kent.

The Supporters’ Club has in the past few years purchased the ride-on lawnmower, new tractor, bench seats, signage, crowd-control barriers on stands, contributed to new Easyfix hurdles as well as many other upgrades at the course.

Officers this year are: Chairman, Tim Nolan; Vice-Chairperson, Mary Doyle; Treasurer, Keith Cooke; Secretary, Mary Ballantyne.

Basic membership is €50 and this gives access to the special Supporters’ Club bar and subsidised refreshments on race days.

The €100 gold membership includes admission and race card to all meetings at Wexford this year; free reciprocal days with nine other racecourses; access to the private Supporters’ Club bar for member and a guest; a free two-course meal in the Ivy Room at a meeting of choice, and free parking on the course.

For enquiries call 087-3828099.

THE COUNTY Wexford indoor bowls league will be holding its fourth annual tournament in Clayton Whites Hotel on Monday and Tuesday, April 9 and 10. Twelve teams from The Ballagh, Bree, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Kilmore, New Ross and Oulart will be participating.

There will be 48 games over the two days, starting at 10 a.m. each day, and the prize-giving will be at 5 p.m. on the Tuesday.

Everyone is invited to come and see some exciting bowls. There is no charge for admission to the tournament.