Racing back in Bettyville

RACING RETURNS to Wexford at Bettyville on Saturday afternoon for the first time since St. Patrick’s Day after the loss of the April fixture because of the weather, and the €94,000 seven-race card is being supported by some good local sponsorship.

Three of the races are being backed by Michael Heffernan and Coast Hotels who are in business in Kilmore Quay and about to open in Rosslare Strand in the former Cedars Hotel.

Popular Crossabeg trainer, Liz Doyle, is also backing the fixture with a race in memory of her late father, Freddie, and Bolands Mercedes-Benz have also come on board.

Racing begins at 2.25 p.m. with the Coast Kilmore Quay €11,500 mares’ maiden hurdle over two and a half miles, followed at 3 p.m. by the feature event of the day, the €20,000 Coast Hotels and Resorts rated hurdle over two miles. The 3.30 is the €10,000 Coast Rosslare Strand two-mile handicap hurdle.

The Freddie Doyle Memorial and Liz Doyle Racing handicap hurdle over three miles, with a prize fund of €16,500, faces the off at 4.05 p.m., followed by The Building the Future Beginners’ Chase over three miles and a furlong, with €12,500 at stake.

The Bolands Mercedes-Benz Wexford handicap chase at 5.10 p.m. is over three miles and a furlong, for €12,500, and the card concludes at 5.45 p.m. with the traditional bumper, this one for mares, over two miles with €11,000 to be won.

Hopefully, the weather will be kind, and a day’s racing at Bettyville could be the ideal way to kick-off the bank holiday weekend. THE THOMAS Doyle Memorial Cup open doubles is being held in Páirc Mhuire, Ferns, on Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m.

The Wexford league starts on Wednesday, May 9, in the league field in Ferns at 7.30 p.m.