FOUR of the seven horses who contested the Listed Savills Chase at Tramore on January 1st this year ended up running at the recent Cheltenham Festival meeting. Most importantly, the winner that day, Joe and Marie Donnelly’s A Boum Photo, went on to land National Hunt racing’s most coveted trophy, the Magners Gold Cup.

What better advertisement could a racecourse ask for but that it provided the final opportunity for a Gold Cup winner to show his wellbeing and ability? Tramore’s general manager Owen Byrne has probably not stopped smiling since last Friday’s centrepiece in the Cotswolds, and I wouldn’t put it past him not to have the Gold Cup hero pay a visit to the track in three weeks’ time.

This week Owen unveiled some tasty news for racegoers, with two of Waterford and Tramore’s most successful businesses, The Vee Bistro and the city’s leading nightspot The Kazbar, joining forces with the racecourse to bring food and drink service of the highest quality. The racecourse also announced a day’s racing free of charge, thanks to BetVictor.

Currently it’s all go at Tramore as a bumper spring/summer season of racing draws close.

The meeting on Sunday, April 14th bears the title of “Spring Family Funday” and that says it all. It will allow patrons to experience the delights of both of the new catering partners for the first time, something that everyone at Tramore is looking forward to very much,

The Vee Bistro has become a firm favourite in Tramore, serving delicious food – with a twist. Owned and managed by Catherine and Derek O’Sullivan, the opportunity to expand their operation to the racecourse was one not to be missed.

Catherine said: “I love a day at the races. It is a great way to socialise, meet friends and, for me, good food and great service is very much part of the experience. We are really excited to bring that to Tramore racecourse.”

The Kazbar, in the heart of the city, is one of Waterford’s leading nightspots, and it also prides itself on quality and service. Seamus Dunphy is also enthusiastic about the link with the racecourse.

He said: “we are really looking forward to welcoming all of our customers from Waterford and beyond to Tramore racecourse. It is a great opportunity to expand our operations further, and to bring a little bit of The Kazbar flair, premium drinks and cocktails to a day at the races.”

The Vee Bistro and The Kazbar join Tom Murphy Car Sale, the Irish EBF and BetVictor as sponsors on the Sunday card, and the betting firm take their sponsorship a step further on Monday evening, April 15th.

Thanks to their support of the whole card, they are providing free admission to all racegoers and the action starts at 4.55pm.

What a great way to end that first day back at work after the weekend!

The Monday card will be full of action, four hurdle races and three chases comprising the offering.

“After a great opening meeting of the year, who knows what future stars will be on show for our upcoming two-day meetings,” Owen Byrne told me this week. “After Champagne West won the first running of the Savills Chase in 2017, he turned out next time to land the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park for Henry de Bromhead. I could not be more pleased with how the race is developing.

“We are raring to go for our meeting in three weeks and, with customer satisfaction top of our list of priorities, I hope racegoers will like what we have to offer.”

TRAMORE

RACE DATES 2019