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You are > Home > Just like old times at July Killarney Races
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Just like old times at July Killarney Races
BY FINBARR SLATTERY
DESPITE a week of inclement weather, Killarney staged a very fine four-day race meeting that seemed to be enjoyed by one and all of those present.
The first of the so called festival meetings, which start and end in Kerry, at Killarney and Listowel, brought back many memories right from the start.
Kate Lee drove her father, my brother-in-law, Con O’Leary and myself to the racecourse on Monday which was an evening meeting. It was Con’s father, Thade O’Leary, that was one of those pioneers who got Killarney Races underway way back in 1936.
I hadn’t long arrived at the races on Monday when bookmaker Seamus Mulvaney told me that Barney Curley was in attendance and this triggered off a lot of memories of the final meeting I officiated there in the position of secretary/ manager all of 19 years ago.
It was Barney who accompanied Lester Piggott on his one and only visit to the races on 15 July 1991. Memories returned of that very special day when Piggott rode three winners all trained by MV O’Brien, the greatest person to train a racehorse that ever lived and Lester is well in the running to be the greatest jockey of all.
It was wonderful to have two of the very best at Killarney Races.
And that reminds me of a story that I told before that is worth repeating: A car load of hurling enthusiasts travelled from Tullamore, Co Offaly to see the Munster hurling final at Thurles, when Christy Ring was at the end of his hurling days. Watching the match beside them was a Cork man with his young son of three or so years of age. Every time Ring got the ball, the Cork man lifted his son up above his head uttering the words "There’s Christy for you now boy." The Cork man wanted his son to be able to say in life that he saw Christy Ring playing.
At Killarney on the day of Lester Piggott’s visit I saw more youngsters around the parade ring than I ever saw before or since – no doubt fathers wanted their sons to be able to say in later life that they saw Piggott in action and they were well rewarded because they will be able to add that he rode three winners that day. The following morning, Lester went for a ride in a jaunting car with Barney Curley and myself and others.
I wasn’t long at the races on Monday when I met Barney Curley who was accompanied by Tommy Stack and his wife Liz. Tommy, a native of Moyvane, got the Killarney Races off to a good start by saddling the first winner of the meeting and I expect Barney Curley was on the winner to get his expenses.
The Stacks and Barney headed for South Kerry after the first race to partake of a nice, quiet evening meal. Barney was back again at on Tuesday and Wednesday and I have no doubt he enjoyed his visit to Killarney Races where he met his wife and accompanied Lester Piggott on his memorable visit all of 19 years ago.
The first three days of this year’s festival meeting in Killarney were, as I stated at the outset, staged in very inclement weather, but day four, which was Ladies Day, was a lovely day blessed with fine weather which made conditions very pleasant for the big crowd present.
All seemed jolly and content with themselves. No rain fell at the races that day which made the occasion both memorable and enjoyable.
Now for a quick round up on each of the four days. 78 horses ran on day one and Tommy Stack, as I have said, saddled the first winner to give the occasion an auspicious Kerry start.
A touch of luck came my way in the third race on which the Killarney Racegoers’ Club held a forecast competition for members. I won the prize, being the only member to have two among the first four finishers. I checked the non-runners at the meeting after I got to the course and noticed there was a non-runner in the third race and the first reserve was running.
The race card which includes very apt comments on each runner stated the following about Drivehorn (No 16) the reserve that was running: "Ran very well for a long way at Roscommon. Will strip fitter now. Not without a squeak." That comment impressed me and I included the horse in my forecast.
While I was filling in my forecast, trainer Andrew McNamara was beside me and I asked him if his runner had any chance. "He should be placed," he told me so I included his runner, Peccatorum, in the forecast and he finished fourth, having been beaten by a short head for third place.
I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised when Vince Casey of Killarney Racegoers’ Club told me soon after the race that I had won. Rain fell quite heavily for most of the time after the third race.
There were 79 runners on the second day which was another miserable day weather-wise. Two jockeys travelled by helicopter from Downpatrick races where they rode horses in the afternoon meeting there. Barry Geraghty had the distinction of riding winners at both meetings while John Cullen scored in the last race in Killarney.
Tom Mullins, son of the legendary Paddy, had his first winner at Killarney Races on Tuesday with King’s Vintage, ridden by Fran Berry. Paddy Mullins was a great supporter of Kerry racing and on at least two occasions was crowned champion trainer of Kerry in a competition sponsored by Kerry Group. It was Denis Brosnan, the then head of Kerry Group who started this competition and we always had a very enjoyable get together at Leopardstown Racecourse when the prizes were presented and a lovely meal served.
Nice to see Tommy Mullins having a Killarney winner and, like his father, I hope Tom will be saddling winners in Kerry for many a day.
Day three was another overcast day. There were 81 runners and among them was a horse named Cillium, trained in Tyrone by Andrew Oliver. Memories of the great football rivalry in the 1970s between Kerry and Dublin flashed through my mind as the owner of Cillium is the former Dublin captain Tony Hanahoe.
The best match I ever saw was a Kerry v Dublin final of that era. Dublin were regarded as unbeatable that year. They were until a young Kerry team came along and beat them. It was the thrill of a lifetime.
Among the winning trainers on Wednesday were Aidan O’Brien, Augustus Leahy and Edward O’Grady.
The weather was the making of day four. It was Ladies Day and well dressed ladies were to be seen enjoying themselves at the races. Rain would have spoilt the day but, thankfully, it stayed away.
There was great interest in the Queen of Fashion which was selected at the races and that event is well documented , in words and photographs, elsewhere in this edition of The Kingdom.
There were 86 runners the last day, bringing the total number that raced in Killarney over four days to 324. Many of the runners will be seen in action at the Galway Festival meeting from July 26-August 1 and many winners there will have raced at Killarney.
And here’s a tip for the Galway Plate – note Northern Alliance which didn’t run at Killarney but is expected to put up a good show in Galway’s most famous race.
Killarney is blessed with sponsors for all races which shows great interest by the local business community. Sponsors names are generally included in the name of the race.
I must give honourable mention to Billy Vincent who was born in Muckross House, Killarney and now lives in Monaco. Billy has been a great supporter of the Killarney Races for many years. Full marks to Micheál Lucey and his staff for a job well done. Track came in for the height of praise from trainers and jockeys.
So there you have a mixum gatherum on Killarney Races for your perusal – I hope many readers had an enjoyable visit there last week.
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