RACING FINALLY got under way in Limerick yesterday where up to 5,000 punters enjoyed the first of the three-day Christmas racing festival at Greenmount.
It was the first time in a decade that racegoers were deprived of their traditional St Stephen’s Day flutter, and more than 30 years since the midwest’s biggest racing festival had to be postponed for two days.
Record freezing temperatures forced the abandonment of racing on Sunday and Monday, but the event got under way yesterday and even the sun made an appearance.
No one would have guessed that just three days previously, temperatures had plummeted to a record low at the racecourse.
“We bought frost covers but it only protected up to temperatures of -4 but the temperatures were unprecedented and went as low as - 12 at one point,” said general manager Russell Ferris.
Three months of hard work went into planning the racing festival and the loss of the two busiest days is estimated to be in the region of six figures.
“We were looking at between 10 and 12,000 people here on St Stephen’s Day and you don’t get those numbers back.
“We would have put in about 12 weeks’ work into the festival but unfortunately Mother Nature removed all that good effort,” Mr Ferris added, “but at least we still have three days of racing and you just have to grin and bear it.”
There was certainly plenty of grinning among punters and bookies in the betting ring.
“The fact the meeting was put back a few days has made a big difference to the crowd but the money is holding up fairly well today in comparison to what we thought it would be,” Listowel bookie Eric Brown said. “There’s still plenty of cash around.”
Racing continues at the Limerick track today and tomorrow.