ONE event this weekend that it would be well worth eavesdropping on is an organised lunch for retired stud and stablestaff at Naas on Sunday.

Possibly the first of its kind and the brain child of Ger Flynn, who came up with the idea from meeting staff who on retirement, had lost touch with going racing.

Pat Curran of the Irish Stablestaff Association told us: “There’s nearly 120 people taking up, so it’s looking like a fantastic event. This is the first time we have run something like this. It was a concept that Ger Flynn thought of after he met a man who was 89 years of age and said he’s ridden one winner in his life, at Naas racecourse, and he’d never been back there. He decided to do something about it and that man is going tomorrow!

“We’re meeting everybody outside, free entry and race cards. They are then escorted in for a three-course meal and a tipster is coming up to give them tips, and we have a few selected guests coming up to meet them all.

“There’s been a fantastic uptake from the likes of Kildangan Stud, Juddmonte, Ballymany and all those studs.

“For racing staff and stud staff, it’s one of the few times they all come together,” Pat added.

Well done to all on the initiative.