Listowel welcomes back the Listowel Harvest Racing Festival

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Listowel look forward to welcoming back 2,000 race goers each day to their 163rd 7 day Harvest Racing Festival from Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th of September…

The Directors and Sponsors of Listowel Races look forward to once again welcoming race goers to its 163th Harvest Racing Festival from this Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th of September. In compliance with current guidelines, 2,000 spectators are allowed to attend each day of this celebrated 7 day festival – which once again promises to live up to its reputation for Serious Racing, Serious Fun and Sensational Style. Tickets are only available online on www.listowelraces.ie and due to the limited capacity demand is high. Those wishing to attend are advised to book their ticket now to avoid disappointment and follow the hashtag #listowelraces for on-going live updates and exclusive content.

Renowned as one of the longest established race meetings in Ireland, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are all National Hunt meetings and Tuesday & Thursday feature an all Flat race card. The opening day’s card is sponsored by Kerry Group with the 1st Race off at 1.30pm. Sunday also features a new best dressed event – the McElligotts Honda Most Stylish Racegoers . . . which is open to both male and female racegoers of all ages. Judge Emily O’Donoghue @fashionablyfortyish will be out and about on the course during the afternoon to select finalists and the overall winner in each category will receive €400 cash prize.

The feature race on Monday is The Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle €50,000 and the 1st Race is off at 1.40pm. Tuesday’s feature race is the Edmond & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes €37,500 and the first race is off at 1.45pm. One of the week’s racing highlights – The Guinness Kerry National €150,000 (Grade A) is on Wednesday and the first race is off at 1.40pm. On Thursday, the feature race is The Listowel Printing Works Handicap €40,000 and the 1st Race is off at 1.40pm.

Making a most welcome return again this year, is one of Ireland’s most prestigious best dressed events – the McElligotts Honda Ladies Day which will be held on the racecourse on Friday 24th of September. Judged by style icon Celia Holman Lee, it has an overall cash prize fund of €1,000 ! Celia will be out and about on the course during the afternoon to select 10 finalists and the overall Best Dressed, Most Creative Headpiece and Most Contemporary Outfit will be announced after 4.30pm. The feature race is The Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle €80,000 (Grade B) and the first race on Friday is at 1.40pm. The M.J. Carroll Handicap Hurdle €21,000 is the feature race on the last day of the meeting, Saturday (25th) and the first race is off at 1.10pm.

Listowel Races will be an outdoor event for the public this year and the Directors have organised marquees for the comfort and safety of race goers. There will also be live music each day and a wide selection of catering facilities on course.

Importantly, tickets are only available to pre purchase online at www.listowelraces.ie and ID must be presented with the online ticket to ensure entry. The general public can only access the racecourse through the Greenville entrance and members of the racing Industry, including Jockeys, Trainers, Owners and staff, must come through the Tralee Road entrance. The entrance from Listowel Square and around by the river, will be closed.

Visit www.listowelraces.ie for more information and follow the hashtag #listowelraces on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and to join the conversation!

Pictured is one of this year’s judges – Emily O’Donoghue @fashionablyfortyish