2005
THE Curragh has cleared a major obstacle in its plan for redevelopment by securing planning permission to realign the road that runs at the back of the existing grandstand, and build a 72-bedroom hotel.
Though there are 45 conditions attached to the road permission, and 77 to that of the hotel, Turf Club Senior Steward Pierce Molony is more than hopeful that construction work will begin in the New Year. “Of course, anyone can appeal the Council’s decision, but hopefully any objections will be sorted out and we can get on with the work,” said Molony.
“The current road between the racecourse and the Standhouse Hotel will become part of the enclosure. We will now submit plans for the new grandstand which we hope to erect on the existing road. Plans are at an advanced stage. We are actively discussing temporary and long-term arrangements with our neighbours so that the project causes the minimum of interference.”
Asked if he was concerned about the conditions attached to the planning permission already granted, Molony said: “Following the negotiations that went on between our consultants and the Council in the past two weeks, I’m positive that the conditions will not have a material effect on the development.”
Dundalk delay
It has also been reported that Dundalk’s all-weather track will not open until February 2007 at the earliest. Though full planning permission has been received for the project, the racecourse is waiting on final funding approval from Horse Racing Ireland. A decision is expected to be made at the HRI board meeting on September 26th.
Track manager Jim Martin said yesterday: “We’ve done all we’ve been asked to do, which was to get planning permission and secure additional funding. Now it’s up to HRI to decide what it wants to do.” Dundalk is seeking €10 million from HRI, which equates to 55% of the total funding required.
Sunday racing a proven success
2010
SOME 25 years ago, in 1985, the sporting highlights included Ireland’s rugby Triple Crown and Six Nations championship success, and Dennis Taylor’s memorable world snooker championship triumph. The Band Aid concerts raised millions of pounds for starving people in the third world and Bob Geldof attained near sainthood status.
Meanwhile, in Ballinspittle, Co Cork two women claimed to have seen a statue of the Virgin Mary move and the ‘visions’ created mass hysteria for a period. While statues were allegedly moving, Irish racing took new steps with the staging of six Sunday fixtures, at Leopardstown, Navan, the Phoenix Park, Gowran Park, the Curragh and Limerick Junction.
Although the meetings attracted bigger than average attendances, doubts were being expressed about the future of Sunday racing.
“Sunday racing, the dream of some, the nightmare of others, was launched at Leopardstown with the 12,000 attendance including a high percentage of women, children and under-25s,” wrote Dave Baker in The Irish Field following the ground-breaking card on July 21st, 1985. The inaugural fixture on the Sabbath appeared to leave a clouded picture with some, and The Irish Field writers remained unconvinced about the viability of the venture.
The Navan meeting on August 25th was a memorable event for Isle of Man-native Stephen Craine who won all five races (two of them dead-heats) that he was eligible to ride in, the aggregate odds amounting to 22,521/1.
Looking back, Craine recalled: “It was a great day for me, one of the best days of my racing life, even though after that I enjoyed a few classic victories.”
Following the successful start to Sunday racing, the first Irish classic on the Sabbath was held the next year, with the David O’Brien-trained Authaal, partnered by Christy Roche, landing the spoils in the 1986 Irish St Leger. The first staging of the Irish Derby on a Sunday was in 1988 when Kahyasi, trained by Luca Cumani and ridden by Ray Cochrane, followed up his Epsom triumph to complete the double at the Curragh.
Dubawi is back to his best in France
2005
LAST Sunday’s Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois was supposed to end in a thrilling finish between four horses who had already picked up a total of 12 Group 1 races. Instead it turned into a dawdle for Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubawi and it is difficult to explain the sheer delight that this victory gave to Dubai’s Crown Prince.
Cruising throughout in the hands of Kerrin McEvoy, Dubawi took control of the straight mile running into the last two furlongs and was never truly put under pressure. The brave Whipper threatened slightly at the furlong marker but he eventually went under by a length and a half. Valixir seemed unhappy on this occasion and hung left a little before taking third position.
The big shock was Divine Proportions. The odds-on favourite appeared to be going well, but when asked to quicken in her normal way there was nothing left in the tank. She just stayed on one-paced and was finally beaten 4¾ lengths, and her below-par performance was difficult for connections to comprehend.
Dubawi has now completely redeemed his reputation, which had reached a peak after his outstanding victory in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas. He failed to stay the distance in the Vodafone Derby, and Saeed bin Suroor has done a great job in bringing the colt back to a mile where he will remain for the rest of his career.
Sheikh Mohammed and his elder brother Sheikh Maktoum were overjoyed, not just by the victory but also because their very carefully considered plans concerning the ground had worked out completely.
The real icing on the cake was that Dubawi had followed in the footsteps of his sire Dubai Millennium, who died so tragically at the beginning of his stud career.
“This victory means the world to me. Dubai Millennium was a world-class horse, and his qualities have now been passed to his progeny. Dubawi is like his father and has his heart. Dubawi is a real champion and now we will be looking at all the top mile races for him,” commented Sheikh Mohammed.
Irish wipe-out at York
1980
WITH six winners, it was certainly Lester Piggott’s York this week, and now he has an excellent chance of landing the jockey’s championship for the first time since 1971. Pat Eddery is still in the running after a treble on Thursday, and Willie Carson must have had a rueful three days as his two main rivals edged closer to him in the title race.
On Tuesday the ninth running of the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup was memorable for the gallant defeat of the Michael Cunningham-trained Cairn Rouge, and the eventual emergence of a notable three-year-old colt, Master Willie. The day produced an extraordinary statistic as Master Willie was but one of four consecutive winners sired by High Line. Only a couple of seasons ago his fee had gone as low as 150gns (no foal, no fee), but now it would be impossible to obtain a nomination for 10 times that figure. With the exception of Cairn Rouge’s gallant defeat, this was a very bad meeting for Irish-trained runners, with no other horse managing to make the first three.
Stolen car recovered intact
1960
I KNOW several people who did not back a winner over the four days at Tramore, but one person who ‘backed’ a particularly bad ‘loser’ was trainer Willie O’Grady whose motorcar, plus baggage and valuable race glasses, were stolen from outside his hotel. However, all was not lost as the car was found abandoned outside Waterford a couple of days later, and not only were all the contents still there but the culprits had even locked the door – an omission on Mr O’Grady’s part.