THE final Midlands Region Meeting of 2019 took place on Doolough Strand in Geesala, Mayo last Sunday. This is always a fabulous event with a large crowd where the races form the centre-piece of a weeklong Festival.

Sam Ewing will spend another season in Horse and Pony Racing and he recorded a double starting with Stormforce for Tom Fennelly in the 10 furlong race.

Sam raced in the front two throughout before quickening away over the final quarter-mile with the Philip Byrnes-ridden Ted Baker staying on well to snatch second spot. In the two-mile, Sam teamed up with Shay Quinn to win with Mr. Bowen. Sam set strong fractions in this race and was able to get a breather into the grey on the sweeping bend into the straight before quickening the temp again with Des Donnelly’s Out Of The Clouds chasing them home under Jake Coen. The double meant Sam had reached the milestone of 100 winners in horse and pony racing, a terrific achievement.

Dylan Browne-McMonagle signed off on his Midlands days with a four-timer starting with Little Maine in the 13.2hh race. This became a match with the Ewing-ridden Little Spirit from halfway and it was only well inside the final furlong that Buddy Harrison’s charge gained the upper hand. There were three 14.2hh races in Dingle all won by different ponies and the three of them faced each other on Sunday with Five Stone Of Lead coming out on top this time as she quickened clear inside the final furlong to win from the Sean Cleary-Farrell ridden Harper’s Pet.

Winner number three came in the 15hh where Aidan Melia’s Baby Browne who led from four furlongs out had just enough in reserve to withstand the late challenge of the Daniel King-ridden Undercover.

Dylan signed off with his fourth winner as Uppsala had to dig deep to win the Non-Winner’s Race by a head for the Ballyconneely-based Errismore Racing with Never Say Die closing with every stride under Jake Coen.

Jake did gain revenge in the mile race where he produced Aidan Gallagher’s Pack Your Bags to hit the front just before the furlong marker consigning Sam to the runner-up spot on Keeper Hill.

Daniel King got the reward for his long journey from Newmarket, Co. Cork when he took the 12-furlong race on Last Chance Paddy, as they came home two lengths clear of Silver Dollar, completing a double for Buddy Harrison.

Action from the beach in Geesala / Wildatlanticimagesaok

Results

12.2/13.2HH Race (1M): 1, B. Harrison’s LITTLE MAINNE (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, A. Sweeney’s LITTLE SPIRIT (Sam Ewing); 3, T. Beegan’s LITTLE MAXIE (Reece Holohan).

14.2HH Race (10F): 1, Browne Syndicate’s FIVE STONE OF LEAD (Dylan Bowne McMonagle); 2, J. Lynch’s HARPERS PET (Sean Cleary); 3, M. Cherak’s SUSIE Q (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, T. Fennelly STORMFORCE (Sam Ewing); 2, D&K Racing’s TED BAKER (Philip Byrnes); 3, S. Laird’s THUNDERSTRUCK (Dylan Browne-McMonagle).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, S. Quinn’s MR BOWEN (Sam Ewing); 2, D. Donnelly’s OUT OF THE CLOUDS (Jake Coen); 3, D&K Racing’s STAND BY ME (Philip Byrnes).

15HH Race (10F): 1, A. Melia’s BABY BROWNE (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, Finnerty Family’s UNDERCOVER (Daniel King); 3, Finnerty Family’s PEAKY BLINDERS (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, B. Harrison’s LAST CHANCE PADDY (Daniel King); 2, S. Lohan’s SILVER DOLLAR (Dylan Bowne McMonagle); 3, M. McAndrew’s WEST BOOTS (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, A. Gallagher’s PACK YOUR BAGS (Jake Coen); 2, P.J. Donnelly’s KEEPER HILL (Sam Ewing); 3, D. Donnelly’s SHOTGUN (Robert Whearty).

Non-Winners Race (1M): 1, Errismore Racing’s UPPSALA (Dylan Browne-McMonagle); 2, A. Gallagher’s NEVER SAY DIE (Jake Coen); 3, M. Flannery’s TOSS A COIN (Sam Ewing).

News

Glenbeigh Racing Festival in Co. Kerry takes place on Rossbeigh Strand today, Saturday and tomorrow, Sunday with 3.00pm starts both days. Ballingarry, Co. Limerick is the venue on Sunday, September 1st with a 1pm start.

The final Meeting of the North-West season will take place on Sunday September 1st in Carrickadawson, Co. Donegal with a 2.30pm start.