Kilbeggan prepares to draw the curtain on racing season
It's hard to believe that this year's race meetings in Kilbeggan have passed so quickly through all sorts of weather. Sunshine was not the obvious sight, but supporters and those who love a day out at Kilbeggan Races still turned up for the occasion and the great atmosphere of the racing.
The end of the season will be a celebration this Friday, September 8 (first race at 4.02pm), with six sponsored races on the card.
Kilbeggan Races Manager Paddy Dunican stated: “2023 has been a successful year for us at Kilbeggan and even though some of our race meetings were marred with wet weather conditions, we still attracted good crowds to our race meetings.
“We also experienced a significant increase in sponsorship from the business community, which has helped to attract better quality horses creating more competitive and exciting racing for our fans. Our AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National has now become one of the most valuable and prestigious Steeplechase races of the summer racing season.”
Six races are sponsored at the last meeting of the year including the Kilsaran Handicap Chase worth €16,500; the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by JP McManus; the Sean Hughes Memorial Maiden Hurdle, sponsored by Josephine Hughes, Mullingar Park Hotel; the Moyvalley Meats Beginners Steeplechase, sponsored by Moyvalley Meats; the Sean Daly Memorial Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by Senator Paul Daly; the Lucy Gannon Memorial Race (pro/am), sponsored by Sean McNamara of Cork and the Gannon family of Kinnegad; and the Pat Doyle Memorial race.
The generosity of these sponsors guarantees that the final meeting will have some great racing for punters and maybe the crowds might be basking in the September sunshine.
The last meeting had a double for Gordon Elliott with Nottodaybobo and Ginnet’s Girl plus Martin Brassil won with the well backed Desertmore House. Trainer PJ Rothwell, who has a winner with El Champo, complimented Kilbeggan with the excellent condition of the ground.
Normal admission ticket to Kilbeggan Races meetings is €15, but there are special discounts for staff, customers and friends on admission tickets at €12 each for groups of ten or more. Book tickets online (www.kilbegganraces.com) to avail of discounts.