Kilbeggan gets an extra date

Published: Wed 23 Sep 2020, 12:59 PM

Last updated: Wed 23 Sep 2020, 1:07 PM

To those outside the world of racing, the decision of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to add an extra fixture to the Kilbeggan Races schedule for 2021 might not appear hugely significant.

But in fact it’s actually quite the achievement: “It is the only National Hunt track in the country that has got an additional fixture for 2021,” says track manager Paddy Dunican, thrilled at the announcement made by HRI last week, which brings this year’s total list of dates for Kilbeggan to 10, two dates of which are consecutive for the first time.

The other nine additional fixtures announced for tracks across the country are all for flat races, although one fixture is floating.

Peter Burke TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, worked with the Kilbeggan committee to get the extra fixture. He believes one reason they were granted the date is because the course committee firmly showed their credentials when they came up with a template early on for a safe return to racing: “They were the first track chosen to get racing back post-Covid when horse racing started back, and the protocols and procedures they had were second to none,” he says.

Paddy Dunican admits that it is disappointing that Kilbeggan’s first ever two-day meeting should come when Covid has meant fans are unlikely to be allowed attend – but he’s not letting that take from his pride at winning the right to host 10 fixtures.

“We would have been up against bigger racecourses who have very good race tracks, but there has been a huge amount of improvements made to our racetrack over the last four years so we have put a huge investment into it and we’re getting big fields of horses and we’re getting very good runners and we are creating great opportunities for National Hunt horses in the summertime.

"So from that point of view we are delighted that all our hard work has been rewarded and that Horse Racing Ireland are now increasing the fixtures.”

It’s not that long ago, Paddy continues, since Kilbeggan had just three meetings a year, so the team would have no difficulty hosting a “Kilbeggan Racing Festival” over their two April dates:

“Down the road certainly there is an opportunity to create a festival at Kilbeggan and we will be looking at that. It’s just that in the current environment, with Covid, you just could not start thinking of a two-day festival or gathering of people because it’s in April; it’s the start of the year and nobody knows what way we are going to be by then, although hopefully we will be a lot better than we are.”

Minister Burke said he believes the government needs to work more closely with the regional tracks and indicated that he holds Kilbeggan in high esteem because of the quality of the track, and the ability of the track committee to provide such a great experience for participants and punters alike – and because of Kilbeggan’s s track record in attracting sponsorship.