Centenary plans under starter’s orders

IT hosted the first race meeting of the new millennium in Europe and later helped punters get used to the euro. Now one of Ireland’s oldest racecourses is to embark on a 12-month celebration to mark its centenary in 2012, but whether the euro is still in circulation is not as certain.

Waterford and Tramore Racecourse will begin its series of events with a “welcome the new century” New Year’s meeting on December 31 and January 1 and the events will continue throughout the year.

The dozens of horses and heroes who helped shape the popular racecourse’s rich history will be remembered with exhibitions of old photographs and memorabilia.

Racing in Tramore began on the beach in 1785 and, according to racecourse general manager Sue Phelan, a six-day meeting was held in mid-August in 1807.

“The August festival meeting continues to be the highlight of the racing calendar in the south-east to this day,” she said.

Under Martin J Murphy, the racecourse company established the current course at Graun Hill on the outskirts of Tramore in 1912, where racing continues to this day.

“We have become known as a great place to celebrate the New Year. The first race meeting of the new millennium in Europe was held in Tramore on January 1, 2000, when a record crowd of 11,000 turned up. The euro was introduced on New Year’s Day, 2002, and the bookies at the track that day had great fun putting it to the test for the first time on a racecourse.”

At yesterday’s launch of the centenary celebrations, Horse Racing Ireland chief-executive Brian Kavanagh described Tramore as one of the “true gems” among Ireland’s 26 racecourses, “very much at the heart of its community, yet appealing to race-goers from far and wide as well as the many tourists who visit Tramore at all times of the year”.

Tramore is one of only a few racecourses in Ireland that races throughout the year, with 11 meetings on the calendar, with the highlight the four-day August Festival.

Waterford racing dynasties like the Widgers, Kielys, and the De Bromheads have all tasted success at the track over the years and famous horses include Leap Frog, Skymas and Sackville.

As apprentices, Kieren Fallon, Tom Queally and Joseph O’Brien have ridden around the undulating, tight circuit while top jockeys Seamus Heffernan, Fran Berry, Ruby Walsh and David Russell rarely miss a meeting.

Throughout the centenary year, the racecourse will be given a “new look” with an improved entrance, upgraded stable yard and refurbishment of food and drink areas.

Picture: At the launch of Waterford and Tramore Racecourse’s centenary celebrations yesterday were model Lisa Kavanagh, jockey Shay Barry from Tramore and model Eve Grant. The centenary celebrations begin with racing on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Photo Patrick Browne