AND they’re off… well, almost.
The white flag is hoisted high for the start of the bumper four-day festival of racing in Killarney which gets underway this Monday evening with some terrific races on the card.
A family evening, in association with Buddies and A Time to Party, will get the festival off to a winning start and the attractions for the younger generation will include bouncy castles, a rodeo bull, face painting, a magic show and a fun-filled activities area.
The crew from Front Runner – a racing club for kids – will also be on hand to entertain the children and to give them an insight into racing.
Tuesday will feature the best of national hunt and flat racing and on Wednesday Killarney Racecourse will play host to some of the 2014 Rose of Tralee contestants who will be presenting the prize for the Rose of Tralee International Festival ladies flat race.
Glamorous RTÉ broadcaster Kathryn Thomas and Rose of Tralee Haley O’Sullivan will join forces to judge this year’s Queen of Fashion contest on Thursday.
The fashion and style stakes are always high and the two celebrity judges will be keeping an eye out for ladies who are stylish, elegant and who stand out from the crowd.
The winner will receive a luxury escape for two to stylish Paris, plus a specially commissioned crystal vase. The winner of the most stylish hat award, meanwhile, will win a trip for two to one of the world’s fashion capitals, Milan, and a specially commissioned crystal vase.
Killarney Racecourse manager Micheál Lucey, who is busy preparing for the upcoming festival, said the lead up to the July meeting is something that he looks forward to each year.
“The course is in excellent condition and there is a great air of excitement around the town of Killarney.
“We are ready to welcome large crowds and some great racing,” he said.
The four-day festival will feature a total of 28 races, generously sponsored by local, national and international businesses. There is an impressive total prize fund of over €260,000 on offer which is sure to attract runners from Ireland’s top stables.
Each day of racing features a mix of national hunt and flat racing.
Meanwhile, two local ladies will enjoy a day at the races courtesy of KillarneyToday.com.
Rachel Elizabeth O’Connor and Irene Hurley were the winners of our free admission tickets to the races for this Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
