White Star lines Kingdom faithful’s pockets

It hasn’t been a notable year for Kerry sports, but the county claimed a big winner at Listowel Races yesterday.

Celebrations went on well into the night as north Kerry toasted a local victor of the €160,000 Kerry National, White Star Line, owned by Patsy Byrne, a native of nearby Duagh.

The Dessie Hughes-trained horse romped home in the feature race, beating the more fancied JP McManus-owned runner, Carlingford Lough, into second.

London-based Mr Byrne, a life-long Kerry GAA supporter, said he was thrilled to be taking home the winner’s €96,000 prize and even more delighted for the people who backed his horse at handsome odds of 16/1.

Kerry National Day is one of the biggest of the seven-day festival meeting, now in its 155th year.

The crowd was around 20,000, whereas at the height of the Celtic Tiger there would have been thousands more.

Yesterday, only one helicopter could be seen — that which brought Mr McManus to the Fealeside track. He had runners in several races, including five in the Kerry National.

Politicians usually attend Listowel in large numbers, but most of those seen yesterday were retired.

Former tánaiste and Labour leader Dick Spring, as well as former Cabinet ministers in Fianna Fáil-led governments John O’Donoghue and Joe Walsh, were seen relaxing among the crowds.

Sportsmen in the enclosure included recently retired Cork football manager Conor Counihan, Tipperary hurling legend Nicky English, and Clare hurling personality and Irish Examiner columnist Tony Considine.

Tony also had the All-Ireland hurling final replay in mind and believed Clare have a great chance of beating Cork. He also felt Clare would be boosted by their U21 final success over Antrim, which they handled “very sensibly’’.

He wasn’t making any money on the horses, but was enjoying his day at the races.

“I love Listowel and think it’s the best race meeting in the country. I come here just one day every year and wouldn’t miss it for anything,’’ he said.

Nicky English wasn’t making any predictions either.

“I was unsure before the drawn game, and while Clare were the better team, I still feel it’s very hard to call,’’ he said.