DUNDALK is in readiness for the autumn/winter racing season which officially kicks off on Friday, September 21st with meetings every Friday night until December 21st. There are also an additional four Wednesday race meetings during that period.

Last year Colin Keane and Pat Smullen went head-to-head for the jockey’s title at Dundalk, the younger man just edging ahead and claiming victory with 35 winners to Smullen’s 33. The trainer’s accolade went to Michael Halford on 25 wins, four ahead of Joseph O’Brien. Ger Lyons had a strike rate of 21% to saddle 19 winners, with Aidan O’Brien and Jim Bolger making the top five with 17 and 15 wins respectively.

Joseph O’Brien has made an explosive start to 2018 at Dundalk and his current tally of win stands at 18, double that of his nearest challenger Michael Halford with nine. Ado McGuinness’ Master Speaker is unbeaten in two starts this year and has contributed a quarter of the north Co Dublin handler’s total of eight victories.

The race for leading jockey at Dundalk in 2018 is much more open at present, Chris Hayes ahead with 13 wins, one better than Donnacha O’Brien and Wayne Lordan. Ronan Whelan on nine wins is biting at their heels.

Next month Al Basti Equiworld will sponsor the Listed Carlingford Stakes on Friday 12th and the Group 3 Mercury Stakes the following Friday 19th. This is the second year of a three-year deal with Al Basti Equiworld. Good news for the track this year was the upgrading of the Mercury Stakes from listed to Group 3 status for the 2018 season.

Dundalk now has a programme that includes a pair of Group 3 races and four listed races. The second Group 3 of the season takes place on September 28th and is the Recruit Island Diamond Stakes. The race has attracted a strong entry, headed by Aidan O’Brien’s high-class duo of Capri and Rhododendron. Overseas entries have also been received from Kevin Ryan, Ed Dunlop and William Haggas.

The four listed races include the Patton Stakes which is run in the spring. The racecourse has confirmed that it will continue as a Kentucky Derby qualifier with a prize fund of €75,000. The winner will gain points as part of the ‘European Road to the Kentucky Derby’ incentive to secure a berth in the most famous race in America.

Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn used the race in March as a stepping stone to his participation in the 144th Kentucky Derby.

Dundalk is currently undergoing construction work. The management team is extending the main grandstand and they are confident that these works will be completed before Christmas. This upgrade includes a new owners’ and trainers’ area overlooking the parade ring, reflecting the importance the racecourse attaches to these stakeholders.

Last week I wrote about the need to attract more people racing and Dundalk has come up with an innovation that is sure to prove popular with customers. The extension to the building will include the first ever indoor betting ring in Ireland, making for a much more enjoyable betting experience for customers at Dundalk Stadium.

Dundalk Stadium is Ireland’s first and only all-weather racecourse and the first with floodlights. It reopened in 2007 and combines a horse and greyhound racing facility. Ideally situated on the outskirts of Dundalk town, the racecourse is only minutes from the M1, the main Dublin/Belfast road. With such ease of access, and an upgraded racing programme, Dundalk should continue to be a mecca for both equine stars and racing fans.