Serious Racing, Serious Fun and Sensational Style at the 159th Listowel Harvest Racing Festival
Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th of September 2017
PICTURED: David Fitzmaurice, Chairman, Listowel Races pictured with members of the organising committee and the town shuttle double decker open top bus at the launch of the 7 day Listowel Harvest Racing Festival which takes place from Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th of September The bus will ferry racegoers to the Listowel Racetrack departing from 12 noon, every half hour from the town Square. Photo: Don MacMonagle
The Race is on…to Munster’s biggest and best racing festival – the 7 day Listowel Harvest Racing Festival, from Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th of September. Racing highlights include the €175,000 Guinness Kerry National Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) Chase on Wednesday 13th; the €55,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle on Thursday 14th and the Listowel Races Supporters Club Sponsored Race ‘The Slán Abhaile” on Saturday 16th of September. This year the total Prize Money over the 7-days is €1.2 million (€1,225,500).
Fashionable racers of all ages can look forward to three days of Best Dressed competitions, including dedicated categories for gentlemen, ladies, younger racers, vintage lovers, couples and the most Stylish Selfie! The fashion highlight of the week is the McElligott’s Honda Ladies Day on Friday 15th of September judged by top TV Presenters Maura Derrane and Daithi O Se. The overall McElligotts Honda Best Dressed Lady will win a Honda Jazz for a year and €3,000 in cash, with further cash prizes of €3,000 to be won on the day. The popular Best Dressed Man Competition, sponsored by Emerald Properties, Construction & Property Rentals, Listowel, is on Thursday 14th and will be judged by the Crimmin Triplets. The Listowel Tidy Town / An Taisce The Best Presentation of an Up cycled/Restyled or Authentic Vintage Outfit is on the closing date of the festival, Saturday 16th of September. As always, in addition to top quality National Hunt and Flat racing, the Listowel Racing Committee have organised an extensive range of free entertainment, including the Kerry Group family Day; daily race card draws with cash prizes, promotions, music and more.
Save your heels – we have got wheels”
Making a welcome return again on Ladies Day is the Listowel Races double decker bus. With the promise to “Save your heels – we have got wheels” the Listowel Bus is free and will depart from 12 noon, every half hour from the town Square. There will also be music and bubbles on board the bus, with ticket giveaways and prizes. The brainchild of David Fitzmaurice, Chairman of Listowel Racing Company, the bus will bring racegoers in comfort and style to Ladies Day.
Admission is only €20 each day / OAP / Students: €12 and children under 12 have free admission to the race course, when accompanied by an adult. Generous group, corporate, sports clubs and pre booking discounts also available including 7 day ticket for the price of 5 days; 20% discount for pre purchase of 20 tickets or more. All tickets can be purchased online at www.listowelraces.ie.
The Listowel Harvest Racing meeting opens on Sunday 10th of September with the Kerry Group Family Day where all children under 12 years of age go FREE (when accompanied by an adult). Family entertainment for kids of all ages is guaranteed and is kindly sponsored by Garvey’s Supervalu in Listowel. Highlights include Kidz Disco Time, Face Painting, Glitz Tattoos, Crazy Magic Show, Bouncy Party Slide and Mobile Pet Farm.
The McElligott’s, Tralee / Honda Ladies Day. Friday 15th of September
One of Ireland’s most glamorous events, the annual McElligott’s Honda Ladies Day will take place on Friday 15th of September. The judges are top Irish TV personalities Maura Derrane and Daithi O Se, assisted by Kerry footballer and McElligott’s ambassador Dave Moran.
Emerald Properties Best Dressed Man Competition
Thursday 14th of September Judges forEmerald Properties Best Dressed Man Competition Listowel Races on Thursday 14th September are the World’s Most Identical Triplets, The Crimmins Triplets – Nicola, Laura and Alison from Dundalk. “Sharp Dressed Men is what the judges will be looking for and a suit and jackets, classic or casual, ties or bow ties are mandatory” commented Pat Lyons, competition sponsor and owner of Emerald Properties. There is an overall cash prize fund of €1,000, (the winner will receive €750, Runner up €150, and third Placed €100). For further details emeraldproperties.ie
Best Up-cycled / Re-styled or Authentic Vintage outfit.
Saturday 16th of September
The Listowel Tidy Towns Group, in association with An Taisce, Best Presentation of an Up-cycled / Re-styled or Authentic Vintage outfit will be judged by well known fashionista, blogger and model Pat Walker and Susan Vickers from An Taisce. There will be 5 male and 5 female finalists and the overall winner in each category will receive a €300 cash prize, with generous prizes sponsored by Listowel Race Company, McCarthy Brokers of Listowel, Broderick’s Pharmacy and the local businesses in Listowel Town. Outfits should be created from an original item of any material and the more imaginative the finished piece the better! This is the fifth year Tidy Towns are hosting this event to highlight the potential of Waste Minimisation, in the imaginative reuse of items we may have previously just discarded. It continues to grow in popularity and is a stylish finale to 3 days of best dressed competitions at Listowel.
For more information on Listowel Races contact 068 21144 / 21172 or visit www.listowelraces.ie. Remember to follow the #listowelraces for updates and to join the conversation!
