And they're off! A festival atmosphere is guaranteed for Killarney's four-day meeting in July which got under way this week.
The Killarney races attract politicians and celebrities, with the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, expected to join thousands at the event.
This year the focus will be on local-born jockey Jim Cullotty, three times winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He has also won the English Grand National.
A bar at the racecourse has already been named after the jockey, and he is expected to be heavily backed throughout the meeting.
Yesterday was family day, with clowns, face-painting and magicians. Children under 14 are free all week.
Killarney Races company manager Mr John Looney said the flat and jump races should give an indication as to the form of horses who will be running at Galway Races later this summer.
He said the €30,000 Murphy's Handicap Hurdle today is one of the main races of the meeting, and should give definitely pointers for Galway.
The annual Dawn Dairies Queen of Fashion competition tomorrow will be judged by Grainne Seoige, Sky Ireland's news anchor, along with the well-known Limerick model agency owner Ms Celia Holman Lee.