Ballinrobe racecourse redevelopment underway

FACILITIES at Ballinrobe Racecourse are in line for a €500,000 redevelopment which will see the renovation of the existing stable yard, a new main entrance, a new playground, machinery shed and a balcony extension.

Grant aid of €200,000 for the project has been approved by the Board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).

Ballinrobe is one of four racecourses for which racecourse capital development grants of almost €3 million have been approved under the new €100 million capital development scheme announced at the end of 2014.

The works, designed to make the venue more family-friendly and to provide an enhanced raceday experience, will begin this year and will be completed in 2019.

John Flannelly, manager of Ballinrobe Racecourse, said the committee is delighted to have received the approval for funding.

He elaborated: “With immediate effect we will be commencing work on a children's playground, a balcony extension to the Coranna Restaurant and a new machinery store, all of which will further enhance facilities at the racecourse. Our intention at Ballinrobe is to provide the best possible raceday experience for our patrons and to encourage more people to come racing.'

Ballinrobe, Leopardstown, Killarney and Tipperary, the first racecourses to have projects approved for commencement in 2015, will spend over €7 million on improvements, creating up to 90 jobs in their immediate areas in the course of the developments.