Races ready to begin
THE countdown is on to the Sligo Races exciting 2017 calendar which gets underway on Sunday, April 30th. Jockey Danny Mullins was special guest at the Race launch in the Sligo Park hotel last Monday night.
Chairman of the Sligo Races, Kieran O’Connor said 2016 had been a good year. He added that despite losing a meeting, they had seven meetings well attended, great atmosphere, good racing and what is so important to any outdoor function in Ireland good weather. “This year will be the 62nd year of racing in Cleveragh and since 1981 the Sligo Races Supporters have played an important part in the development and progress of Co Sligo Races. It’s terrific that nearly 400 people each year pledge their support to us at the beginning of each racing year. We hope you will continue to support us and in turn we will always be trying to improve our facilities for you,” he said.
Kieran explained: “We are a service industry and we are always conscious of the need to give good service to all the people who come through our turnstiles. We are also aware of the commercial and social value of Co Sligo Races to the town and the county.” Kieran update the audience on the progress of the 10 year development plan. He said the fact that the plan has been approved for grant aid by Horse Racing Ireland is a major boost to County Sligo Races. He complimented Donald O’Connor and manager Kathryn Foley for the enormous work they have done in preparing the paperwork and getting everything in order. Work on the existing Grandstand building, new toilets and turnstiles down near the entrance from the racecourse will start once racing finishes in September. “In 2016, we had a lot of successful theme days including Student Day, Sligo GAA Day, Sligo Rovers Day, Family Day, Ladies Day and Special Olympics Day. Unfortunately, Sligo Rugby day had to be cancelled due to weather but is scheduled to go ahead this year. The first meeting of the season is always a colourful event hosted by Fergal Quinn with a very colourful theme each year”. Kieran thanked all of the people involved in getting all of these days off.
In the year special guest jockey Danny Mullins won four races in Sligo. Among them on Lets Dance trained by Willie Mullins is now lined up to run in the Cheltenham festival.
Another Sword Dancer trained by Aidan O’Brien went on to win at Royal Ascot. Danny gave a synopsis of what a day in his life involves; he gets up at 6.30am green tea and chocolate and then out to wherever he’s riding out. Today it was his mothers.
Then a question of bringing some horses over to Willie Mullins to be considered for Cheltenham and then a few young horses to Jim Bolger. Legendary Sligo Races Supporter Brian Mulligan presented Danny with few bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk as it is well known that Danny is fond of chocolate.
At the end of the evening a draw took place and a cheque for € 500 was presented to Danny to pass on to the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.