Kilbeggan Races set for final meeting of season

It's that time of year again when the Kilbeggan racing season comes to a conclusion after another fascinating season. Four months and eight meetings later, race-goers can look back on a very memorable year, where even the weather relented for the two main meetings in July and August. The grand finale commences next Friday, September 7 (commencing at 4.40pm with seven races down for decision). The Kilbeggan race committee, like many others, have a major task in delivering successful race meetings in the middle of a recession, and also the bad weather over the past few years. However, there seems to be great support across the midlands for the races and this year it's been populated by everyone from students to an Active Retirement group, the latter of whom enlivened the last meeting. The Midlands National meeting on a fine evening was the most successful for years, with the attendance well up. These two meetings have provided two of the most successful best dressed ladies competitions in recent times. The last three meetings had increased attendances on the previous year. Given the right circumstances, Kilbeggan will continue to deliver a great evening for families, punters, and groups into next year. The last meeting took place in heavy ground which brought a number of shock results, but Swampfire (9/4) and the locally trained Loughnagall (9/10), ridden by Barry Geraghty, relieved some of the pressure on punters. This year has brought a lot of success for Dessie Hughes and jockey Bryan Cooper, especially with the triple success of course specialist, Chase the Favourite. Next Friday will decide who will win the Greville Arms Hotel Leading Jockey Award and Paddy Dunican Auctioneer & Valuer Leading Trainer Award. The European Breeders Fund are sponsoring the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Hurdle of €13,000; the Midland Breeders Supporting Kilbeggan are sponsoring the novice chase of €8,750; and Angus Beef Ireland are sponsoring a condition's hurdle of €15,000. With such competitive races on the card, it should be a good race meeting for punters and as this is the last opportunity to get out in Kilbeggan, why not bring along a few friends, enjoy the atmosphere and music before the dark nights settle in.