BALLINROBE Racecourse opened its new stablestaff restaurant, aptly named ‘The Robe,’ on Tuesday. The new facility was officially opened by Bernard Caldwell, CEO of the Irish Stablestaff Association.

In attendance at the opening were representatives from Ballinrobe Racecourse, Tobin, Sheridan Contractors and Lydon House Catering.

Ballinrobe won the prestigious Racecourse Award at the 2024 Irish Thoroughbred Employee Industry Awards, supported by Godolphin. The prize money from this award was directly invested into the construction of The Robe restaurant, further enhancing the support and care for the invaluable stablestaff.

John Flannelly, racecourse manager, said: “Stablestaff, grooms, trainers and jockeys are the backbone of our industry. When they travel such distances, it’s essential that they are well taken care of.

“The Robe restaurant is a testament to our commitment to their comfort and well-being. Seeing this project come to fruition has been incredibly rewarding. We are proud to offer such an exceptional facility and hope that stabelstaff enjoy it for years to come.”

Bernard Caldwell commented: “On behalf of stablestaff, I would like to thank the Ballinrobe Racecourse manager and directors for providing a beautiful restaurant for our grooms. This is likely the best grooms’ restaurant in the country, and a lot of thought went into its creation. I look forward to many visits to this wonderful restaurant.”