The state of the track at Tralee's six-day festival threatened to overshadow the action during the past week.
A false patch of ground affected the outcome of two contests on the opening day, prompting a deputation of jockeys (including Kevin Manning and Wayne Smith) to meet the stewards. Both riders had been in prominent positions when their mounts stumbled early in the straight. Needless to say, both were subsequently beaten, but it was obvious that there was a serious problem. After a consultation with the officials, it transpired that the offending strip of ground had been altered to alleviate a separate problem with the second last hurdle. Although digging out the patch and filling it with sand on Wednesday rectified the matter, nothing could be done for the remaining flat races on Tuesday.
The worst section of the track was between the seven- and four-furlong markers, where there was a sparse covering of grass, and as the horses churned it up it resembled a ploughed field. Fresh ground was used on Thursday and the remainder of the week went without incident.
Wayne Smith who had described the track as 'unraceable' on Tuesday felt it was worse on Wednesday. Another to voice his opinion was trainer Jim Bolger who did not mince his words when calling the state of the racing surface 'deplorable' and those responsible for it 'incompetent.'
The training performance of the week must go to John Queally for the success of Merry People in the Denny Gold Medal S'chase on Thursday. The 12-year-old, part-owned by Tramore racecourse director Karl Casey, had gone through a barren spell dating back to his victory in the same event in 1997.
Kayaara, a one-time decent flat performer, also put his stamp on the meeting. The old rogue refused to race for the fifth time in a row under all codes and will surely now be granted the retirement for which he has long yearned.
Richard Hannon continued his stranglehold on The Tattersalls Breeders Stakes at the Curragh when the unbeaten Blue Goddess gave the trainer his fifth success in the race in as many years. The daughter of Blues Traveller was in front from shortly after halfway on her way to collecting the #98,000 prize. Welsh owner David Mort has plenty to smile about, not only did he purchase her for 15,000gns, he is also involved in the Petrushka syndicate.
Irish jockeys stole the show at York's Ebor meeting where Michael Kinane and Johnny Murtagh rode nine winners between them over the three days. Murtagh who is riding on the crest of a seemingly endless wave rode seven group winners in the seven days from Sunday.
In The Racing Post two weeks ago, journalist Alastair Down recalled a night out at the Galway races where, but for the timely intervention of jockey Paul Carberry, he and his entourage would have failed to gain entry to one of the city's nightclubs. It appears that Paul's younger brother Philip has inherited a similar talent! During his recent trip to Australia as part of theIrish jump jockeys' team, he and two of his teammates were having trouble convincing a doorman that they were above the legal age to enter a particular establishment. None was carrying relevant I.D. and the situation appeared hopeless until quick thinking Philip produced that day's racecard from Flemington, which contained a profile of the riders, including their age and photo?all three were admitted.
The ex-Pat Hughes trained Lanturn and Park Leader have joined the Wexford yard of Paul Nolan. Nolan, delighted to have two such high calibre inmates, said during the week that last season's Kerry National winner Lanturn is recovering from a fetlock injury and though unable to run in this year's renewal he will be back soon.
