Saturday
Tralee once had a viable horse racing track at Ballybeggan Park.. Ballybeggan once ran a week long meet in August as part of the Rose of Tralee Festival. It closed its doors to regular flat racing and steeplechasing back in 2008. The track was slated for redevelopment, but the economic downtown shortly after meant the development never happened. As you can see from the pictures, the facilities have deteriorated significantly. But the local North Kerry Harriers have kept a breath of life in the track with an annual one-day point-to-point meet where amateur riders and hunting horses compete in steeplechase races. There were six races plus two flat pony races for under 16 riders. We stayed for the first three jump races. All six races were run at three miles over thirteen fences. There are bookies that take bets. The first race had 42 entries and was split into two divisions with 14 horses in each. (The rest were scratched). I had no winners.
Click on the galleries below to bring up scrollable windows with full size pictures – the gallery previews show just thumbnails of the pictures
As the races progressed there was also a dog show going on behind the stands. Amateur jockeys mingle with the crowd and their families if they are not riding in the current race. Elaine took my picture in a well worn judge’s stand. There is a special parking area for vintage cars. There is a bouncy castle for kids. There is an ice cream truck. Given the state of the facilities, it all makes for a surreal experience.
Before the races we had a nice lunch in Tralee at Quinlin’s Fish Bar that we visited some days ago during our day out in Tralee. Dinner was at home. In the morning before setting out for Tralee, I visited Kennedy’s Butcher shop and bought a nice strip steak for myself and some chicken breast fillets for Elaine. There were delicious on the barbecue.
An aside: Tralee still has a very popular greyhound track that runs three nights a week. I have never been. Also, before we leave the Dingle Peninsula we will attend a real race meet at Listowel.
Back again tomorrow.
A far cry from Churchill Downs!! Sad really. At least the judge’s stand didn’t crumble to the ground with you in it.
Does the pic of Elaine with a thumbs-up mean that she had a winner?
No winners.
A great setting for a mystery/crime novel, eeek! But the horses are beautiful and the turf So green…
There’s nothing sadder than a racetrack that gone asunder! Even with Ca;ifornia’s downturn boy they converted Bay Meadows very quickly into apartments right ON the 101! But they do indeed have the population. The green fields were magnificent in the background of some of the pix. Only thing missing from your steward stand were the binoculars! Very cute😉