THE directors of Listowel Racecourse met this week to assess the significant damage done to the track’s racing surface, facilities and buildings by a recent storm.

The Co Kerry track is bordered by the River Feale which burst its banks following Storm Bert and flooded the racing surface. Fixtures and fittings were washed away and water also entered some racecourse buildings.

Racecourse director Pat Healy reported on Thursday: “It’s going to cost a lot of money to put things right. The electrics and flooring are damaged, the gravel in the stableyard has been dragged into the river, exposing pipes and cable ducts, and the stablestaff canteen was severely affected. The Easyfix matting in the parade ring was washed away, the and there is dirt and muck everywhere.

“The big problem we have is the ambulance road in the middle of the track, which has been severely damaged.”

Anyone who knows Pat will know it takes a lot to take the smile off his face, but he and his fellow directors are struggling to look on the brightside.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the state of the facilities. We’re a non-profit organisation with a good festival and we had our eyes on making improvements but that is all on hold now.”

Replacement fixture

Cork Racecourse lost a fixture (Sunday, November 24th) due to Storm Bert and a replacement card was staged yesterday (Friday, December 13th).

Eoghan O’Grady, Cork manager, said: “The ground would have been fine for the November 24th meeting but for the Blackwater River bursting its banks. The whole track was under water. The woodchip canter-down was washed away and we lost a lot of railings.

“It happens two or three times a year and is a significant cost. If we have a bit of warning we can take up the woodchip and take down railings but it takes a full day to do that and, as we were due to race the day after the storm, we couldn’t take those measures this time.”

Racing was cancelled at 3pm on Saturday, a day before the fixture was due to take place. “The racecards had already been printed and the caterers had begun their work,” O’Grady reported. “We had to cancel all our bookings and while it was good to get a replacement meeting it is never as good the second time.”

Cork Racecourse was submerged in similar circumstances in November 2020 and in January 2016. The Hilly Way fixture was cancelled in 2015 due to waterlogging.