SOME of the best known GAA clubs in Co Kildare are joining with the Curragh racecourse on a special fund-raising initiative for the first of their four Friday evening meetings on Friday, August 9th. The collaboration will aim to promote a sporting partnership between the racecourse and Kildare GAA. The clubs involved in the inaugural promotion include Sarsfields, Moorefield, Rheban, Suncroft and Round Towers.

The exciting seven-race programme next Friday will also include a race to celebrate the new partnership between the racecourse and Kildare GAA, with mascots representing some of the clubs accompanying the jockeys into the parade ring for the race.

The evening race-meeting, which features a clash between some of Europe’s leading two-year-olds in the prestigious Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, sponsored by one of the world’s leading thoroughbred sales company based in Kentucky, will be the first in the Curragh’s Summer Sounds series. This will feature an exciting mix of live music from some of Ireland’s best known performers, and will take place after the final race on four consecutive Fridays in August.

Moon Looks On will kick off the series next week and this seven-piece band, fronted by singer/songwriter Stephen Gormley, is known for its energetic and foot-stomping performances.

The Hideout will take to the stage after racing on Friday, August 16th and this popular duo of Graham Halton and Séan Kenn, who both hail from Kildare, will a welcome addition to the evening’s entertainment.

The Riptide Movement is set to perform after racing on Friday, August 23rd and this will be a great opportunity to see one of Ireland’s most popular bands. They are renowned for their phenomenal live shows and soaring, guitar-driven, energetic tracks.

The Summer Sounds series concludes on Friday, August 30th, when the newly crowned 2019 Rose Of Tralee will be the guest of honour as part of her first official engagement. An announcement about a special musical guest on the evening will be made shortly.

Tickets include admission to the races and the concert and they are available now at www.curragh.ie., with an online discount available for anyone buying for all four evenings. The racecourse is also providing complimentary transport from both Kildare Town and Newbridge.

Stable staff appreciation month

A second announcement this week concerns what the racecourse is calling Curragh Stable Staff Appreciation Month. This is in association with TRM and features a variety of exciting initiatives benefiting stable staff throughout the month of August, commencing on Friday, August 9th.

A series of four ultra-competitive races set to take place on all four Friday meetings in August will be sponsored by TRM, with points awarded for the first four placed horses. The trainer with the most points at the end of the TRM series will win a €1,000 voucher for TRM products and a breakfast for all the staff. This is a notable recognition of the contribution made by stable staff.

Grooms in charge of all winners throughout the season at the Curragh will receive a specially branded TRM/Curragh Racecourse BTO jacket and will be entered into an end-of-year prize draw. The racecourse will have other offers for stable staff which will be communicated through their representative body.

Commenting on the programme, TRM’s Larry Masterson said: “TRM is fully appreciative of the critical part played by stable staff in our industry and is delighted to be working alongside the Curragh Racecourse on this and other incentives. The aim is to improve racing for all involved, from the horse’s well-being through our innovative range of supplements, to the trainers, owners, breeders and stable staff alike.”