Winners all right at Leopardstown

It was hard to tell who was the happiest man at Leopardstown yesterday: J.P. McManus, Charlie McCreevy or Stewart Kenny, of Paddy Power bookmakers. The former won four of the seven races on the card, and the latter recouped his sponsorship of the big race, when a relative outsider took the £66,370 first prize.

But it was Mr McCreevy who gained most of the adulation, as racegoers gave thanks for his decision to abolish on-course betting tax.

Although the reduction will not come into force until July 1st, some bookmakers were offering to absorb the current 5 per cent tax themselves in a show of seasonal goodwill.

As for Mr McCreevy, he insisted betting was not his primary reason for coming racing. "It gets me out in the fresh air."

His Cabinet colleagues, in contrast, were paying little attention to the great outdoors. Mingling in corporate suites, hired by the day's main sponsor Paddy Power, at the top of the grandstand, were the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern; the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh; and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid. A late arrival to the party was the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, looking a little weary after battling his way through the Foxrock-bound traffic.

At 17,575, yesterday's attendance was up almost 1,800 on last year and more than 3,000 on a disappointing St Stephen's Day, which was affected by stormy weather. More significantly, a new course record of £420,429 was gambled on the Tote yesterday, while the bookies took in £1.1 million, an increase of £250,000 on last year.

The racecourse manager, John White, said a crowd of at least 20,000 was expected today for the long-awaited clash between Florida Pearl, Doran's Pride and Suny Bay in the Ericsson Chase.

Among the crowd yesterday was the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, who said he hadn't backed any winners but was hoping his luck might change in the main novice hurdle event with a horse trained by his son-in-law, John Mulhern. The horse finished a distant fourth, however, as Joe Mac completed the third leg of an 80/1 four-timer for J.P. McManus and Christy Roche.

Limerick hurling legend Joe MacKenna, after whom the winner was named, collected the prize for McManus, who also won £23,400 second prize in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase.