IT’S been six years since punters could enjoy horse racing during the Rose of Tralee International Festival, but there’s good news for race-goers because Ballybeggan Park will host the Kerry International Horse and Pony Racing Championship in August.
Tralee Chamber Alliance has announced that the action-packed, fun-filled and family-friendly two day event will take place at the famous Tralee venue on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August.
The CEO of Tralee Chamber Alliance, Kieran Ruttledge, said: “Horse racing and the Rose of Tralee International Festival go hand-in-glove as the Festival was originally established in 1959 with a view to boosting attendances at the horse racing while attracting tourists. This year’s revival of the sport in Tralee during August should prove to a great spectacle where runners will compete from all over Ireland and also from across the water.”
The two day event will see top class racing under the rules of the Horse and Pony Racing Association with cast weights applying.
Apart from a much anticipated visit by some of this year’s Roses and the Rose of Tralee, Haley O’Sullivan, one of main attractions at the meeting will be the second running of the Trophy Challenge between Ireland and Great Britain.
Some of the most famous names in the sport have raced around the Ballybeggan circuit including
Adrian Maguire, Norman Williamson, Barry Geraghty and Bryan Cooper over fences and Richard Hughes, Pat Smullen, Jamie Spencer and MJ Kinane on the flat.
The organiser of the event, Colm O’Connor, said: “Horse and pony racing is where these people learned to ply their trade from an early age and this has helped them in no small way once they made the transition from outside to inside the rails and realising their dreams and ambitions of becoming top class jockeys. There will be a number of categories on the race card during the Ballybeggan event on the 16th and 17th August to suit ponies of varying heights and varying distances up to two miles for the horses.”
Saturday 16th August is Ladies Day while anyone planning to go racing at Ballybeggan during this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival will be spoiled for choice with a quality race card, full catering facilities and numerous entertaining side-shows for all ages.
For more information about the Horse and Pony Racing at Ballybeggan Park during the Rose of Tralee International Festival, contact Mark Sullivan on +353-87-9190217 or markksull@gmail.com (two k’s in Markk is correct).
