CANCELLED RACE DAY DISRUPTS LOUTH PUBLICANS’ PLANS
BIG FASHION SHOW IN A MARQUEE PLANNED WITH FUNDS RAISED TO GO TO NORTH LOUTH HOSPICE MAY 1998
Disappointment is about the mildest term which is used by local publicans to describe the loss of their day at Dundalk races.
A number of pubs in Co. Louth come together to sponsor what is usually the biggest meeting of the year crowd-wise, only for the track at Dowdallshill to fail the course inspector on Wednesday, two days beforehand.
Chairman of Dundalk Race Company, Leo McCauley admits the track isn’t sufficiently prepared following the meeting of 8 May when it gets badly dug-up in places.
‘Every course must be inspected by the official course inspector who goes around the racetrack, usually three or four days before the event,’ he explains.
‘Unfortunately, and to our great surprise, one of the fences is vandalised the night before the inspection.
‘ The ground is also too hard and the inspector feels it isn’t suitable to race on. In the interests of the safety of the horses and jockeys, the meeting has to be called off.’
The chairman recalls conditions are very mucky for the first meeting of the season on 8 May when there is a total of 158 runners and it isn’t possible to set up the course to the standard required.
‘It is a big disappointment for ourselves as the weather is good and the vintners had plans for a super day.’
The race company doesn’t know yet if it will get another day instead. A new date is applied for.
It is understood the publicans are offered a Sunday meeting on 16 August next as a replacement though they have yet to decide whether or not to take it up.
One of the main organisers of the race day, Pádraig Keane, says more work than ever before goes into the meeting as a fashion show and wine & cheese reception is organised to take place before the opening race.
‘When we go out to the course on Tuesday to see where we are going to put the marquee for the fashion show, we hear there is going to be no racing. This is confirmed on Wednesday after the inspection.’
Mr. Keane adds the vintners are getting together to see what to do next, as while there is no problem raffling two £500 holiday vouchers, lines for which are sold at £1 each in pubs, they have to sort out the fashion show.
‘We are very disappointed. We get sponsorship and have special people invited. As well as that, it is all in aid of a good cause, North Louth Hospice.
He continues quite a lot of work and money goes into organising the day, while the idea of using the marquee is a new one.
Chairman of the Louth Vintners’ Federation, Pat Watters, says in a statement that it is hoped to reschedule the fixture at Dundalk and make it a successful venture.
He apologises to all concerned, especially the sponsors and North Louth Hospice.