Kilbeggan Races returns with two-day meeting
It's that time of the year again, as Kilbeggan Races is back with a two-day spring meeting tomorrow (Thursday), April 20 and Friday, April 21.
The first race on Thursday is at 4.15pm, with the action on Friday getting underway at 4pm.
After the recent spell of wet weather, spring has been making a belated appearance of late and all involved with the Westmeath track will be hoping for sunshine over the two days. Overall, Kilbeggan Races is an ideal place to have a great day out, with ten race meetings from now until September.
Kilbeggan Races Managing Director Paddy Dunican stated: “2022 was a very successful and historic year for us at Kilbeggan, and we have had a significant increase in the number of paying customers attending our race meetings. We also experienced a huge increase in sponsorship from business with the most significant development being the upgrading of our AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National to a Grade B race and the prize money increasing from €75,000 to €100,000.
“We are looking forward to another very successful year at Kilbeggan. So far, we are experiencing an increase in the number of pre-group bookings from local social clubs and business bringing their staff and customers for a day out and also a number of new sponsors," Paddy added.
Many excellent champion horses have raced in Kilbeggan in the last few years – something that is sometimes forgotten. For example, in June of 2016, Michael O’Leary’s great champion and dual Aintree Grand National winner Tiger Roll won a novice chase at Kilbeggan.
The Aintree Grand National was won by Minella Times, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, and the horse had won a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in May, 2018 and was second in a Beginners Chase at Kilbeggan.
Freewheelin’ Dylan, bred locally by Westmeath man Cathal Ennis, won three times at Kilbeggan from 2018-20 before winning the Midlands National in Kilbeggan. Henry De Bromhead’s wonderful champion Put the Kettle On won four times at Cheltenham including the Champion Chase over two miles. He also won a chase in Kilbeggan in May, 2019.
This short list shows three Aintree Grand National winners, a Champion Chaser, and an Irish Grand National winner - all runners at Kilbeggan.
Sport remains a great way of bringing people together and creating a memorable experience, and Kilbeggan Races in the heart of Ireland is very much in that vein. Kilbeggan Races is all about people enjoying a great social event in a relaxed atmosphere, where you can have that family get together, meet old friends and new friends.
Special discount packages
The normal admission ticket to Kilbeggan Races meetings is €15, but the venue is offering special discounts for staff, customers and friends on admission tickets at €12 each for groups of 10 or more. And there is also special discounted summer party pack from €23 per person. Additional drink and betting vouchers can be purchased and there are also corporate hospitality packages. Visit the website (www.kilbegganraces.com) for more information.