Summer breeze and steeds light up Killarney

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AS FORMER KERRY STAR COLM GOOCH COOPER HAS RACE NAMED IN HIS HONOUR

RARE and all as it is, whenever the sun does decide to grace Killarney Racecourse with its presence it makes an already spectacular sight seem utterly utopian and racegoers were eager to take full advantage of the fine weather on Monday evening as the flag was raised on Killarney’s July meeting.

A family atmosphere added to the opening evening as the high temperatures meant the only thing matching the ‘speed of steeds’ was the run on ice cream and cold beverages.

The top race on Monday was the Cairn Rouge Stakes - a listed race worth €55,000 which went to Drumfad Bay at odds of 10/1, trained by 2017 Cheltenham heroine, Jessie Harrington.

Monday was also an evening when equine legends shared the limelight with another legend: Kerry great, Colm Cooper. Killarney Race Company paid tribute to the local hero and multiple All-Ireland medal winner with a race named in his honour and the ‘Thanks for the Memories Colm Gooch Cooper Maiden Hurdle’ was won by 6/4 shot Line Out for John Kiely and jockey Andrew Lynch.

The 2017 Rose of Tralee contestants will provide a splash of colour at Wednesday’s meeting and, as is customary during Killarney’s summer race festival, fashion steps into the limelight on Thursday when the Dawn Milk Ladies’ Day brings the height of fashion to the course.

And why wouldn’t they when this year’s ‘Queen of Fashion’ will receive a trip for two to Paris – not to be outdone, the best dressed gent also receives a trip for two to Milan.

Winners alright in Killarney!

RIGHT: Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Colm Cooper with his family Vince, Geraldine, Karen and Mark Killarney Races on Monday evening.

Terence and Ailish Mulcahy, KIllarney. Ivo O’Sullivan Fossa and Killorglin and Pat O’Donoghue Fossa