Roscommon Races kicks off new season

Roscommon Racecourse will unveil to the public their refurbished facilities at the first race meeting of the year on Monday, May 18 (first race 5.30pm). The new-look upstairs bar is one of a number of developments at the course over the past few months. 'We"re all endeavouring to improve the facilities here at the racecourse and we felt from our experience that we needed a room for corporate entertainment or for fundraising activities. We decided to spend a significant amount of money on this upstairs room in order to meet the standard we wanted,' said Racecourse Committee Chairman, Shane Fleming. Gents and ladies toilets have been added to the upstairs bar and the area can be segregated in a way that a company or sports club can have their own private room with a fantastic view - a view that not only is the prime spot for watching the races but also to see every area of the course. While grant aid for the major projects from Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have been suspended for the moment, the Roscommon Racecourse committee are delighted to have been approved funding to upgrade their facilities. There has been a new shed to store machinery built on the course while all the stableyard area has been concreted, with a total of ten wash bays erected for grooms to wash down their horses after the races. There are new suspended ceilings in all the bars and toilets, a new bar counter and new equipment for catering while the stands have been treated to give a sharper look to the facilities. In total, through the combination of HRI funding and monies invested by the racecourse, a total of €500,000 had been spent on development in the last number of months. There is a strong message coming from the HRI that racecourses must continue to upgrade their facilities to compete in difficult economic times and to attract and give value to the punter. 'There was areas of the course that needed upgrading and hopefully this will be the start of even more upgrading as the years go on. Horse Racing Ireland were in full agreement with our plans for the course,' pointed out Michael Finneran, Racecourse Manager. The fact that Roscommon Racecourse has such impressive attendance and betting figures certainly was a determining factor in funding being secured for the projects. For the first meeting on May 18, the committee are happy to report that they have six of the same companies on board to sponsor the races, and they are encouraged that both local and national associated firms have shown loyalty to Roscommon Racecourse as it strives to maintain its place at the top of Irish racing venues.