THURLES holds a unique place in the list of Irish racecourses, being the only one which is family-owned. It has been run by the Molony family for several generations, and most notably by Pierce who died in January 2015.

While it was Pierce’s name on the manager’s door, he would have been the first to admit that it was a family effort. His wife Riona and his four daughters, Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate have all put their shoulders to the wheel to keep the show on the road.

Thurles is always a favourite with Irish racegoers and especially National Hunt enthusiasts, and has a deserved reputation for holding racing when many another track might succumb. The racetrack itself has an excellent free draining soil that lends itself to the rigours of winter racing.

It will stage 11 race meetings between next Thursday, October 29th and the end of March 2017. Most of the meetings take place on Thursday, again something unique to the track.

On the death of her father, Kate took over as manager and she had big shoes to fill. Her father has held the position for just over 40 years, taking on that responsibility in his mid-twenties on the death of his own father Dr Paddy. Today Kate still relies on the support of her mother and sisters and it is a family effort.

With an uphill climb to the finish, this undulating, right-handed, dual-purpose course is 10 furlongs in distance and has six hurdles and seven fences. It is a good test of a horse and many top-class racehorses have won there, including Native Upmanship, Klairon Davis, Newmill and the Melbourne Cup hero Vintage Crop. The latter made a winning debut at the October meeting in Thurles in 1991, so the 25th anniversary of the victory will be celebrated this week.

Earliest records are of racing at Thurles in 1732. For a long period of its history racing at the track was under the auspices of a local committee, aided by the Molony family. In the early years of the last century the late family took over the running of the races. Back then there were four meetings each year in February, April, June and November.

The local community were as important in those years as in the present day as the racecourse had only 20 stables, and travelling the day before racing was common place. Extra stables were provided by neighbours Matty Maher, Tommy Hickey, Captain Goodman and Pat Carey, with others in the town given by Timmy Shelley, Dr Tom Barry and Hugh Ryan, the latter being the local undertaker!

Thurles racecourse was never purpose built. It has evolved over the years. Things have changed from a century ago when double, single and drop banks were common place, there was no continuous running rail or plastic wings, and the hurdles had no padding on the top bar. Now there are ample facilities for patrons and professionals.

Car parks surround the racecourse, while both stands give an excellent view of the racetrack, as does the lawn in front of the stands. All parts of the course are clearly visible from these vantage points.

With Grade 2 hurdle and chases being staged during the ‘winter season’ at Thurles, it is no wonder that all of the leading trainers in Ireland, as well as some of the best known horses in training, make their way to Thurles in search of glory.

It is great to welcome the Tipperary course back after its summer break.