From the archives: Mayo racecourse faced a closure crisis in 1969

By Tom Gillespie

BALLINROBE Racecourse was named Horse Racing Ireland Racecourse of the Year 2024 and was previously awarded Racecourse of the Year in 2012 by the Irish Racegoers Consultative Forum, which highlighted the strides it was making with ongoing development and improvement to provide racegoers with a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

But back in November 1969, the future of the racecourse was in the balance, when the Irish Racing Board announced they were withdrawing their grant to the facility after 1971.

The shock decision, locals claimed, would have severed the lifeline of the town.

On November 6, 1969, The Connaught Telegraph highlighted the plight of the racecourse where racing has taken place since 1921.

The newspaper reported: “The closure of the racecourse would be a deadly blow to the business and tourist trade of our town,” said Mr. Dermot O’Connor, secretary of the local Licensed Vintners Association.

However, the town’s race committee made it clear they were prepared to fight the matter with members of the Racing Board.

“We are baffled by their decision for we have always carried out the wishes of the Racing Board,” said Mr. Frank Hynes, secretary of the race committee.

“None of our directors has ever received a dividend because the profit was always ploughed back into improving the course. Their decision must be based on our tote returns.”

The course was one of five which received the ‘death sentence’ from the Racing Board - because they claimed the racecourse had been operating at a substantial loss to the board.

“The Board’s grant (then) consisted of £10 for every horse which travelled to Ballinrobe, and at our first meeting this year (1969) we had 70 horses,” said Mr. Bernard Joyce, a member of the committee since 1922, when the present racecourse was opened.

“We were passed by the Board to improve the course and we have just completed the erection of 60 stables. We have also had the stand extended and the entrance improved.

“This is a big blow and it is poor consolation to those who are trying to save the west.”

Businessman Mr. James McCormack said the decision to withdraw grants came as a great shock to the people of the town.

“We could do our best to carry on without the grant, but each meeting would cost over £1,000 so we could not carry on for long,” he added.

Captain Denis Baggallay, Turf Club secretary, said the course would not be deleted from the fixtures list.

“If they want to go alone and get sufficient local support to do so, we will certainly allocate dates to them,” he said.

The other tracks doomed back then were: Tuam, Wexford, Kilbeggan and Laytown.

Thankfully, Ballinrobe Racecourse got a reprieve from the Racing Board and since January 1999 when local man John Flannelly took over racecourse manager, the facility has been going from strength to strength.

Punters might forget that it was at Ballinrobe that Tiger Roll had his first win over fences, back in May of 2016, in the McHale Fusion 3 Plus Beginners Steeplechase. From May 2019, the race has been renamed as the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners’ Chase.

Wicklow Brave, the 2016 Irish St. Leger winner, made a victorious debut in the renamed chase in 2019.

Some of horse racing’s top names made their debut in Ballinrobe, like Doran’s Pride, a former Cheltenham winner, who won his first race at Ballinrobe in 1993, or Traverse, the unwitting star of the series ‘Only Fools Buy Horses’ who won his first Irish race at Ballinrobe in 2003.

On July 31 last, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ITBA) hosted its 2024 Western Region Awards, where John Flannelly was presented with the respected Contribution to the Industry Award.

The ceremony took place at the Galway Races, with nearly 300 attendees gathering at Ballybrit for a special lunch to celebrate the achievements of their friends and neighbours.

John Flannelly, who has served as the Ballinrobe Racecourse manager since 1999, was recognised for his remarkable contributions over the past 25 years.

Under his leadership, the ITBA said, the Mayo venue has seen significant advancements, including the construction of new facilities and the extension of the racetrack. His dedication to ensuring that Ballinrobe Racecourse meets the needs of racegoers and industry professionals alike has been unwavering.

John’s visionary leadership, they said, and proactive management style have earned him widespread admiration. One of John’s crowning achievements was winning the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Racecourse of the Year Award in both 2012 and 2023.

There will be 10 race meetings at Ballinrobe this year, which commenced yesterday (Friday, April 11), and meetings on Friday, May 9, Monday, May 26, Tuesday, May 27, Monday, June 23, Monday, July 21, Tuesday, July 22, Monday, August 11, Monday, August 25, and Friday, September 12.