ONE OF Ireland’s oldest racecourses is to embark on a 12-month celebration to mark its centenary in 2012.
Waterford and Tramore Racecourse will begin its series of events with a “welcome the new century” new year’s meeting on December 31st and January 1st, and the events will continue throughout the year.
The many famous racehorses and their owners and jockeys who helped build the rich history of the racecourse will be remembered with exhibitions of old photographs and memorabilia.
Waterford racing dynasties such as the Widgers, Kielys and De Bromheads have all tasted success at the track over the years, and famous horses that raced there include Leap Frog, Skymas, Greasepaint and Sackville.
Racing in Tramore began on the beach in 1785 and, according to racecourse general manager Sue Phelan, a six-day meeting was held in mid-August in 1807.
“The August festival meeting continues to be the highlight of the racing calendar in the southeast to this day,” she said.
Under Martin J Murphy, the racecourse company established the current course at Graun Hill on the outskirts of Tramore in 1912, where racing continues.
“We have become known as a great place to celebrate the new year. The first race meeting of the new millennium in Europe was held in Tramore on January 1st, 2000, when a record crowd of 11,000 turned up. The euro was introduced on New Year’s Day, 2002, and the bookies at the track that day had great fun putting it to the test for the first time on a racecourse.”
Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh yesterday described Tramore as one of the “true gems” among Ireland’s 26 racecourses.