Fixtures for 2018 racing calendar
THE extensive drainage works carried out at Sligo Racecourse was the reason the two last meetings went ahead as planned.
Earlier in the year, the Cleveragh course had to cancel its first three meetings for health and safety reasons with the drainage works being carried out.
Extremely rainfall on both the August 22nd and September 27th meetings was not problematic for the course and both went ahead.
Kathryn Foley, Manager of Sligo Racecourse, said the drainage works have been really successful and because of it the two meetings could take place.
She said: “We have now reached the end of our racing season for 2017.
“We are very happy with the way the year progressed.
“The drainage project embarked on at the beginning of the year has been extremely successful and we are in no doubt that we would have lost two meetings this year without it.
“This puts everything into prospective and we are confident that going forward the track will pay dividends,” Kathryn added.
Even though 20mm of rain fall on Sligo Racecourse during the September 27th meet, the buzz of the last meeting of the season was palpable.
The rain caused testing conditions on the track for the seven-card steeplechase but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the large attendance in the enclosure on Students Day.
Kathryn said: “As always the students brought the vibrancy of youth to the track and judging from the cheers from the Grandstand they clearly enjoyed the racing.
“They were by no means put off by the weather and the style remarkably gets better by the year.”
“Once again we would like to thank our loyal supporters and sponsors and we look forward next year’s fixtures.
2018 Sligo Fixture List
Sunday, 6th May 2018 Sunday National Hunt; Tuesday, 22 May 2018 Flat; Tuesday, 19 June 2018 Flat; Sunday 15 July 2018 National Hunt; Wednesday, 8th August Flat; Thursday, 9th August 2018 National Hunt; Tuesday, 21 August 2018 National Hunt; Thursday, 27 September 2018 National Hunt/ Steeplechase.