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You are > Home > Racing in the holiday mood!
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Racing in the holiday mood!
EVENING MEETINGS were introduced in the 1960s, the idea being to take advantage of the longer day and to broaden the atmosphere at holiday meetings.
Sport and leisure, recreation and pleasure were facets of life worthy of exploitation.
The objects of the innovators are no less relevant today, almost fifty years later.
Horses and holidays, good cheer and evening racing go hand in hand, and the only vital ingredient to place the topping on the cake of success is the weather.
It is all about an interest in horse racing and being in the holiday mood, and sharing the experience. It all happened.
There were no incentive for ladies at last Friday’s Bettyville Park fixture, unlike the previous meeting where ladies were admitted free and fashion competitions were thrown around like confetti at a wedding.
But the ladies turned out in good numbers.
Many dressed as if they were making a statement against the judge’s decision last time, but I’m sure nothing was further from their minds than looking glamorous for the sake of brightening up the surroundings, and that they certainly did!
The children were present too.
A few in buggys, others at the age where sitting on the thick hedge that surrounds the parade ring is acceptable for watching the beautifully groomed horses walk around the parade ring before breaking into sweat on the track itself.
Like any activity you care to explore, the anoraks are out there.
Trevor Ginn travelled all the way from Sleaford in the English county of Lincolnshire, his claim to fame being the fact that he has visited every racecourse in England, Scotland and Wales, and now Ireland is in his sights.
Last Friday was his 50th birthday – he proudly wore a badge proclaiming the fact, a bit like an Irishman showing his colours on St. Patrick’s Day – and he was the subject of a big surprise, courtesy of his adoring wife, Tracey.
Trevor presented the ‘best turned out’ prize for all seven races, backed a few winners and had a whale of a time. He returns to Lincolnshire with great memories of the Wexford races.
ATR (attheraces) presenter, David Duggan, and his camera assistant, were prominent as they interviewed jockeys, trainers and other personalities, and the links were going out live on the dedicated racing channel.
This is a big bonus for Wexford. Normally ATR would take the pictures live, but on this occasion, they had a presenter sending up-to-date live feeds in addition to the normal coverage and bringing Wexford to the armchair viewers in Ireland and the UK.
It is possible to enjoy the races on television these days, thanks to modern technology, but it fades in comparison to being there, the wind in your hair, the smell of horse flesh, the social banter in the bar, and who knows, you never know who you are going to meet, visitors like Trevor Ginn don’t drop by for every meeting.
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