BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
This coming Bank Holiday Monday June 3rd, Gowran Park will stage their richest ever race as the Gowran Classic worth €200,000 takes place.
It’s the inaugural running of The Gowran Classic, and Monday’s feature race will offer an extra incentive as it doubles up as a qualifier for The Irish Derby at The Curragh on the week ending June 30th.
At time of writing, 104 entries have been declared which sums up the major interest and it’s not surprising considering whats at stake for winning connections.
The Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association(INPBA) have come on board to generously sponsor the day so their will be free admission for all.
Apart from the Racing, their will be a BBQ, lots of family fun activities, GAA skills camp in hurling and football for kids and Live music after racing.
So plenty of activities on show, and a wonderful family day out for all on a Bank Holiday Monday Afternoon. Hopefully, the weather won’t cause havoc as three of their scheduled flat meetings this season have already fallen victim due to a waterlogged track including the last scheduled meeting on Wednesday May 22nd.
The last meeting in Gowran Park took place on Thursday May 9th, and it was a rearranged meeting having fallen foul of the weather in April. It formed a two-day meeting, with two €50,000 Listed races forming the centrepiece the previous day.
Both John “Shark” Hanlon and Henry De Bromhead are well renowned for their National Hunt exploits, but both trainers landed the featured races on May 8th.
The Shark trained Enfranchise to win The Vintage Tipple Stakes, while The Henry De Bromhead trained Empress Of Beauty landed the McCalmont Stakes.
It’s a busy period for Gowran Park as last week they hosted The Kilkenny GAA Golf Classic, while Thomastown GAA staged their Golf Classic also in Gowran Park on May 17th/18th.
Young Irelands Gowran will host their annual Golf Classic next weekend on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th June with €3000 in Prizes, and a Team of 4 costing €200 including a meal. For Tee times contact Liam Walsh on 087 2647248
Meanwhile, Gowran Park will host one of the great highlights of the year, The Kilkenny Country Music Festival on Sunday July 7th. Mike Denver returns once again as main headline act, while also performing are a host of acts including Olivia Douglas and Claudia Buckley who return again this year having performed last year.
Robert Mizzell is back this year having performed in Gowran Park previously, while Ray Lynam, Stacey Breen and Kelan Browne will all take to the stage this year to make their debut at The Festival.
As always local musicians Peter Hutchinson and Paul Brett – Peter and Paul – will get the afternoon’s entertainment underway, while The Conquerors are backing band for the day. James Lakes of KCLR will once again be MC.
Tickets can be bought in Hennessy’s Shop, Gowran or at Gowran Pharmacy or in Kilkenny City at the following locations, Morrissey Motors, Waterford Road, open Monday to Friday 8:30 – 6p.m. & Saturday morning 10 -2pm, and also Daly Farrell Accountants across from the Friary Church 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Plenty to look forward to in Gowran Park throughout the Summer months, starting with the richest race to be ever staged in The South East this coming Bank Holiday Monday.
