Youghal make stand improvement a priority with €100,000 IGB grant

They must have thought the day would never come, but the long suffering patrons at Youghal track finally heard the news yesterday that the seaside track is to get a €100,000 contribution from the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) to deliver improvements at the track.

A meeting on Monday next with the engineers and construction personnel will progress the development plans.

Bertie Lupton, who has made a huge contribution at the track was thrilled yesterday. “We have had to listen to gloom and doom for so long with the threat of closure hanging over us, so it is refreshing to have some positive news. The plans have yet to be finalised but the objective will be to make the Grandstand comfortable for racegoers,’’ he said.

New manager John McGrath was similarly upbeat. “This is very positive news for us,’’ he said. “It will provide a level of comfort that will enable us to hold on to owners and patrons. Things are shaping well and people are bringing dogs out earlier than usual due to the mild weather.

“There are some positive things happening here. We are getting plenty of dogs qualifying and we will probably be able to stage free admission on Monday and Friday nights this summer, thanks to new sponsorship.

“We are thinking of running the Champion Stakes for A1/2 dogs this year and would be planning to run it from March 23 with the final on Easter Monday. We will run A3 550 and A5 525 stakes in conjunction with it”.

Clonmel patrons are even happier as their track is receiving a €1 million grant from the IGB and it is planned to knock the current stand when the Produce Stakes finishes on May 6.

Work would commence immediately on a fully modernised stadium which will consist of a restaurant that will seat approximately 120 with standing room for approximately 350. It is hoped that the work will be completed by the end of November and the estimated cost is €1.5m.

Five Irish dogs were trialled around Wimbledon yesterday with the English Derby in mind and they all did flying runs. Fastest of the 480 metre runs was the sensational 28.28 from Dolores Ruth’s Razldazl Jayfkay as he led home his kennel companion Razldazl Marilyn by just over four lengths. Razldazl Rioga beat Razldazl Bugatti by over three lengths in 28.42.

Putting in into perspective, the favourites for the Racing Post Juvenile were much slower with Coolavanny Bert doing 28.51 and Eden Star 28.56.

In a sprint trial, Pat Curtin’s new acquisition Shelbourne Geoff clocked a sensational 16.05 which was considerably faster than English Derby winner Taylors Sky. Curtin recently bought Shelbourne Geoff from Brian King and he will run for a syndicate of 10, including jockeys Tony McCoy, Jamie Spencer and Paul Hanagan as well as other racing personalities Phil Makin and Kevin Ryan, former soccer players Vinnie Jones and Ray Parlour as well as Curtin himself and his great pals Noel Hehir and Murty McMahon.

Making it a good news week all round, Gallivan Murphy Hooper Dolan Insurances will again sponsor the Juvenile Classic at Tralee and the event will start on Friday, March 2nd with the final on Friday, March 23. The winner’s prize for the 48 dog event will be €15,000 and entries are due to close on Tuesday next.

Tomorrow night will be a big one at the Kingdom Stadium with the final of the Dowling Memorial 570 the top event on what will be a benefit for Tralee CBS Zambia immersion project.

Saturday’s meeting will be one of the countrywide meetings in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland and will include the final of the A2 Novice 750 plus the final of the N2 525.

The big action of the week, of course, will be the second round of the SIS Live Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne on Saturday with Milldean Panther, Rockchase Bullet and company bidding to step up on their round efforts.

It will be a big weekend at Limerick where the Irish Cup will be in progress at Patrickswell and good cards will be on offer at the track tomorrow and Saturday. Coursing Derby favourite Go Home Hare will parade tomorrow night while there will be a number of open races on Saturday’s card which will be part of the countrywide Down Syndrome Ireland Benefit sponsored by the Irish Examiner.

Entries for the €3,500 Kudos Creative Catering Supersprint at Curraheen will close on Saturday. Closing on Tuesday next is the 24 dog €1,400 Crossfield Kennels Puppy Oaks (March ’10) which starts on Saturday week and also that night the Getting Out Race will be a €350 A2 (Bg) 575.