The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
A giant leap for summer racing
ANOTHER day of racing has been added to Killarney Racecourse’s flagship meeting, with a five-day event billed for the 2018 July Festival.
It brings to 12 the total number of days’ racing in Killarney’s schedule, made up of 80 races.
Killarney Race Company’s newly appointed chairman, Gerard Coughlan, had been keen to take full advantage of the hugely successful attraction, which continues to break attendance records each year, and he was in jubilant mood at confirmation that the campaign to extend the local racing season had come to fruition.
“We had been striving for a fifth day of racing in July and the fact that it has been approved is fantastic news for Killarney,” he said.
“The conservative estimate is that the races are worth in the region of €6.2 million to Killarney with an additional €1.42million in prize-money - and that is now set to increase with the extra day approved.”
A €350,000 54-unit stable barn was opened this year to cater for additional racing at the scenic venue, and the news follows a recent twinning agreement with Bordeaux Racecourse.
The partnership will see Killarney hosting a race to promote Bordeaux, with the French track doing likewise for Killarney. Mr Coughlan and Race Company Secretary Con O’Mahony were in Bordeaux recently to make a presentation to the winning connections of the course’s Killarney Welcomes race.
Tickets for the 2018 Killarney Races 2018 are now available to purchase, and can be obtained by visiting www.killarneyraces.ie.