This week’s statistics from Horse Racing Ireland reveal that attendances were down for the first half of 2024 but it looks as if July has started well as there were bumper crowds reported at Dundalk, Navan and Downpatrick last weekend.

Dundalk Stadium’s traditional July 12th meeting is arguably the track’s biggest meeting of the year and featured a hotly-contested best dressed competition which was won by Nicole Mallon, a firefighter from Co Down.

Navan staged a flat card on Saturday which you might think would be low-key but it was also ‘Dino Day’ which brought out plenty of young families. Louise O’Regan of Horse Racing Ireland reports the attendance was up 23% on last year at 2,233, this coming three days after Fairyhouse saw a 72% increase in turnout with almost 2,600 at a midweek meeting.

It was no surprise to hear Downpatrick had almost 4,000 racegoers for its bank holiday fixture on Monday. Former manager Richard Lyttle put a lot of work in to building up this day and his successor Ruth Morrison is carrying on the good work.

Ruth told us: “Our Family Fun Raceday is always a hectic one but it is all worthwhile when you see so many children enjoying themselves. It’s a great opportunity to welcome a different audience to the racecourse and hopefully some of these kids will be the racing fans of tomorrow!”