Looking to the future
Feedback on improvements to facilities at Powerstown Park Clonmel Racecourse which have been completed under the HRI Capital Development programme has been very positive, with plans in place to continue the facelift in 2023.
A major refurbishment project on the stable yard area is now complete, with plans in place to enhance the venue further with new fencing and a new weigh room building, and the team is also looking into introducing a new watering system for the track next year.
DJ Histon, General Manager of Clonmel Racecourse said “We have been making great progress in relation to our new development and refurbishment projects here at Powerstown Park. To date the work completed has been to an exceptional standard and we are thrilled with the results.
“At the moment our attention naturally has turned to our final fixtures of the season the Clonmel Oil Chase Day and our final race meeting of the year on December 8th sponsored by Jim Strang Peugeot Kilsheelan.”
Milestone
Make a note in your diaries everyone. The Clonmel Oil chase has reached its 20th anniversary of sponsorship and is the biggest day of the year for the track. Two decades of sponsorship is an amazing achievement by the team at Clonmel Racecourse and a loyal contribution by the well-known local business spomsors.
The race takes place on November 17th the team is hoping for another great winner of this iconic race. It has produced many top-class winners over the years, including Fakir D’Oudairies, That gelding followed up his Clonmel Oil Chase success with Grade 1 wins at Ascot and Aintree.
The action gets underway at 12.40pm next Thursday with the Irish National Hunt Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle. The feature race, with a prize fund of €60,000 goes to post at 2.53pm.
The afternoon will also feature the TA Morris Memorial Irish EBF Listed Mares Chase and the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.
It promises to be a great afternoon of National Hunt racing at the premier county track. There will be live music in the Club Stand Bar and a generous racecard competition with compliments of the main sponsor. Tickets are available online and at the gate on the day, adult admission remains at €15 and children U18 go free when accompanied by an adult.
Supporters Club
Clonmel Supporters Club Membership continues to grow. This offers many benefits and could be the perfect Christmas gift for the racegoer you love this holiday season. Keenly priced at €90 for the year it includes free admission, a racecard and entry to the exclusive club lounge with a view of the finish line at all race-meetings for 2023.
It also includes a series of reciprocal race dates with other tracks and organised trips with your fellow members. In recent years the club visited Gowran Park, Punchestown, Wexford, Kilbeggan and Newbury.
December 8th sees the final race meeting of the year at Powerstown Park. Car dealership Jim Strang Peugeot Kilsheelan is sponsoring this meeting and bookings have started already. Many groups are choosing to host their Christmas party outing at the track.
Hospitality packages include admission, racecard, dinner, reserved tables and live music to complement a day of great racing and good fun.
For more information and tickets visit clonmelraces.ie. The Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) send their best wishes to all the team at Clonmel Racecourse as they wind down their racing year.
By Leo Powell
