Ballinrobe Racecourse award ‘massively significant’

Ballinrobe Racecourse award ‘massively significant’


Daniel Carey

BALLINROBE was named the inaugural Racecourse of the Year at Leopardstown Pavilion on Monday –  an honour that “ranks right up there” with the course’s finest achievements.
That’s according to Jonathan Mullin, Editor of the Irish Racing Post, who said that Ballinrobe’s success was particularly impressive given the amount of improvements made by various racecourses.
“It’s massively significant, and it’s a very competitive award,” Mullin told The Mayo News shortly after leaving the prestigious Horse Racing Ireland Awards. “Every time a racecourse holds a meeting, they get a good five-figure sum now. That means a lot of racecourses now have money, and they’re spending it on making it more enjoyable for consumers and upgrading their facilities. So to come out on top in the current era of cash-rich racecourses is very noteworthy.”
Ballinrobe Racecourse Committee chairman John Staunton and manager John Flannelly accepted the award, and ‘you could see how much it meant to them’, said Mullin. Staunton’s father JB was involved in buying the racecourse back in the 1920s, and has served as chairman himself since 1990.
Flannelly detailed the work carried out at the track – a €4.5 million adding a pavilion linking the grandstand to the new Tote building, a new weigh-room with a dining facility on the floor above, a new self-service restaurant and new bar facilities, betting shop and entrance building, plus additional viewing terraces below the grandstand. The manager also flagged the next big project – eight acres have been bought to extend the track, which now hosts nine meetings a year.
“They’ve managed to develop the racecourse quietly, efficiently, without falling into debt, nice and sensibly, and they’ve done it in a quality manner,” said Mullin, a former parade ring announcer at Ballinrobe Racecourse. “The fact that they’ve managed to win this inaugural award will rank right up there with their achievements.”
The Kilmaine native added that while virtually all the other Horse Racing Ireland awards were chosen by the press, the new Racecourse of the Year gong is selected by the Racegoers’ Consultative Forum.
“They’re volunteers, but they go round to different racecourses and [carry out] continuous assessment on racecourses on facilities, consumer enjoyment, value for money, and other things,” Mullin explained.
“What’s especially gratifying for Ballinrobe is that this is something that would have been marked very, very hard. The criteria would be discussed ad nauseam with this group, and they’re well regarded. These are serious men, and take their job very seriously.”
Michael Duffy, Editor of The Mayo News, who is a parade ring announcer at Ballinrobe, said the award is justified recognition for everyone involved with the racecourse.
“From talking to owners, jockeys and trainers in the parade ring over the last number of years, I can certainly vouch for the fact that everyone has been thoroughly impressed with the level of investment and progression at Ballinrobe. 2013 will certainly be a year to savour for everyone who plays a part in making race days so special,” he said.