Looking ahead to 2018 racing with eight meetings from May
HORSE racing fans can look forward to a bumper season this year with eight meetings planned for the Cleveragh racecourse from May.
The launch of the 2018 season took place on Wednesday night in the Sligo Park hotel with Suzanne Eade Horse Racing Ireland’s Chief Financial Officer the guest speaker.
She spoke about Brexit and how it could impact the horse racing industry and she said she was a little concerned but at the moment the industry is doing very well.
Suzanne also spoke about Racing UK taking over At the Races a move that is going to take place in 2019 and will see Irish racing broadcast on that channel.
Kathryn Foley, Sligo Races Manager, said the launch went very well.
“Suzanne said she was very pleased to come down to talk and there were good questions from the floor so it was very informative.
“There was a good crowd too. Don O’Connor our chairman spoke about the drainage last year and the loss of the meetings (three) and the condition of the track today.
“He said that the parts that have been drained could run National Hunt racing today it’s that good.
“Don spoke very well and we did have a very good year once the meetings began, we had five very good race meetings. He said the last two races would have had to have been cancelled were the drainage works not carried out.
“It’s all systems go now for us and we’re looking forward to a great 2018,” Kathryn added.
The racing season begins with a National Hunt fixture on Sunday, May 6th with a Peaky Blinders theme.
Rugby Day is on Tuesday, May 22nd with a Flat meeting, with Active Retirement Day on Tuesday, June 19th, another Flat race.
Family Day (National Hunt) is on Sunday, July 15th with Farmers’ Day (Flat) on Wednesday August 8th. This is the popular two-day meeting which sees large crowds and plenty of glamour on show for Ladies Day which is on Thursday, August 9th, a National Hunt meeting.
Tuesday, August 21st is Diageo Day and is a National Hunt fixture, while the racing season closes on Thursday, September 27th with Students’ Day, another well supported meeting with students from IT Sligo and St Angela’s coming out to enjoy the National Hunt racing. These eight meetings should bring plenty of entertainment to racing fans in the region.