Listowel Races makes a royal match

HORSE racing in North Kerry just got a royal seal of approval this week in a new partnership between Listowel and one of the world’s most prestigious race courses.

Royal Ascot is set to promote the Listowel Races into the future in an incredible coup for the local race company worth untold riches for the industry in North Kerry.

The partnership was flagged in style last week as Royal Ascot rolled out the red carpet for directors and friends of Listowel Race Company, including former Kerry CEO Denis Brosnan and Listowel Race Company Chairman David Fitzmaurice.

Head of Horse Racing Ireland Brian Kavanagh attended a special function for the Listowel party – alongside Brosnan, Fitzmaurice, Noel Murphy, Kevin Kenny and John Fitzgerald – in the Royal Enclosure Lodge at Ascot (pictured above).

The British racing bigwigs spared no expense as they treated the Irish to a afternoon’s racing in a space considered the inner sanctum of the Ascot experience.

“It was an incredible experience as they reciprocated the hospitality we’ve shown them at Listowel over the past two or three years,” Mr Fitzmaurice told The Kerryman.

“Now, as part of our new partnership, Ascot is to help promote Listowel and vice versa. Royal Ascot will facilitate a Listowel winner in the Ascot National Hunt which is set to create even more excitement and interest in the Listowel Races,” he added.

It comes as manna from heaven at a time of resurgent fortunes for racing in North Kerry and nationally, following a number of key developments at the track in Listowel which have made the Harvest an even more attractive prospect for punters.