The Horse racing thread

[sammymaguire]

what is it Dec?

[Declan]

Tipperary set for 'mind-blowing' track

By Pat Keane

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

IRELAND could have a new state-of-the-art racecourse by the spring of 2013.

The course, which will be based on an 800 acre site close to the Tipperary village of Two-Mile-Borris, will include both a National Hunt track and an all-weather flood-lit surface and will form part of a massive €460m investment announced at the Horse and Jockey Hotel near Thurles yesterday.

It is envisaged that it will be a Grade 1 track and also due to be built is a Premier greyhound facility on what will be called The Tipperary Venue.

Both Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Greyhound Board are understood to support the plans.

There is a great need for a National Hunt course which can race through the winter, and this will be 'unfloodable', according to architect, Brian O'Connell. He said the track will be built a metre above the ground and 'will be better than anything seen before'.

Legendary trainer Aidan O'Brien described the impressive presentation as "amazing, mind-blowing".

He continued: "It's what the world has been waiting for, we will be able to hold the Breeders' Cup at this track. Everyone knows how hard it is becoming, with the weather, to race here in the summer and winter.

"This will be an all-weather with grass and the whole project will be good for the economy. It is a phenomenal project and just what the Irish racing industry needs. It will be fantastic to have a world-class facility in Co Tipperary and I eagerly await having many runners there."

Ballydoyle number one jockey, Johnny Murtagh added: "These are fantastic plans. We are supposed to have the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the country and now we are going to have the best racecourse."

Chief Executive of HRI, Brian Kavanagh, said: "We have been presented with the plans for The Tipperary Venue and are impressed with their ambition. We wish the promoters well and look forward to working with them on the racing aspects of the development."

It is estimated the racecourses will cost in the region of €50m and will be broadly based on the Leopardstown model.

As well as the courses and greyhound track there are many other aspects to what promises to be an extraordinary development.

The magnificent site, alongside the M8 motorway, between Dublin and Cork, will also become home to a 500 room five-star hotel and a casino.

The government has initiated a complete policy review and a redrafting of the current legislation on gaming in Ireland. It is hoped this will provide for the licensing of gaming casinos in the country. There are further plans for an 18-hole golf course, driving range, retail outlets, equestrian centre, timber chapel and a heliport.

The Tipperary Venue is the brainchild of Thurles-born Dublin-based businessman, Richard Quirke.

He is best known as the creative force behind Dr Quirkey's Good Time Emporium and also has a wide variety of successful business ventures.

"It's an opportunistic time to do this, if you wanted to do it three or four years ago it would probably cost 40% more," said Quirke who has reportedly invested €30m in the project.

Close to another €500m has to be found with independent TD for North Tipperary, Michael Lowry, who has been closely associated with the project from the start revealing that: "they will not be relying on the banking sector for investment."

Should planning permission be granted, and that is due to lodged with North Tipperary Co Council this morning, work will begin on the site in the spring of next year.

It is expected that 1,000 people will be employed annually for the three years of construction and a further 2,000 full-time jobs will be created thereafter.


This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Read more: http://www.examiner.ie/sport/tipperary-set-for-mind-blowing-track-104333.html#ixzz0VDqiXnMx

[rossie mad]

Well it seems class. a second all weather track in ireland would be great.

However will it go ahead in todays climate?
Horse meeting attendances are down and the banking sector dont really have alot of confidence in lending at the moment.

Dont see O briens point about holding the breeders cup.

I thiught that was only held in the US

[Clown]

Any fancies today Sammy/Donnellys??

[sammymaguire]

looks ambitious but wrong location in my opinion, of the 30 or so tracks in Ireland, Tipp already has 3 tracks, would any of these be shut down?

would Dublin not be better suited to this type of project and hopefully it would not end up like another Great Leighs 

[Declan]

would any of these be shut down?

Thurles

[sammymaguire]

none of this is info; all fancies: (I'll update later if I hear anything solid)

1:30 Musselburgh  Lay Infanta was told this is a bit of a mule
EW Brink  @ 5/1 
  2:15 Punchestown
Shinrock Paddy
  2:50 Punchestown
EW Takestan  @ 12/1 
  3:15 Nottingham
EW Arizona John  @ 11/2 
  3:20 Punchestown
Jered  @ 4/5 
3.50 Nottingham
Big Bay @ 4/1
  3:55 Punchestown
EW Declans Lad   
  4:10 Musselburgh
EW Ingleby Star  @ 16/1

[sammymaguire]

TAKESTAN  great to see Oliver Brady having a decent winner at a big meeting this afternoon 

[rossie mad]

Fair play sammy missed the race

Was he any good?

Got him at 13 on betfair.

10 notes

Ill have to start bringing you out for pints next 

[sammymaguire]

you'll see it on ATR website, they have all irish meetings on replay mode about half an hour after the race

perfectly timed by Cullen, looked like the 2nd place horse had scooted away from them 2f out but the winner had plenty left with 200yds to go and went past with ease 

anyone know why Carberry was not riding Jered this afternoon?? 

[rossie mad]

I dont know but i thought mccoy always rode jered for some reason.
Maybe im wrong.

Finnegans wake hasnt had a race in three years i read somewhere earlier if thats true it was some win.

Backed lenabane myself.

Fancy tufton in the next at musselburgh in 5 mins

[Mickey Linden]

What happened Jered? Was he well beat? I was waiting on him for a nice treble. Sick!

[sammymaguire]

sure its a JP Mc horse thats why McCoy was on it alright 

[T O Hare]

What happened Jered? Was he well beat? I was waiting on him for a nice treble. Sick!

Same here, think he was beat a two or three lengths

[rossie mad]

Beaten by about a length.

Seemed very comfortable from two out but couldnt overtake russells horse and the tank seemed to empty after the last fence.