A GREAT NIGHT AS NEWBRIDGE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Ian Fortune

A big crowd made the journey to Newbridge on Friday evening as those with a connection to the place celebrated 50 years at the Cornelscourt venue.

There was a wonderful card on offer and the racing was competitive and of a high quality.

There was a massive 17.36 run over 325yds by Jerry Connors’ Hawkfield Ava. It was quite fitting that she would win as, later in the evening, the Track Supporters Club made a presentation to three generations of the Connors family Jerry, Michael, Paddy to mark the brilliant success of Hawkfield Ozark in the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk.

Winning handler Keeley McGee was only too happy to bring along her classic winner and the resulting pic can be seen below.

SOME FINE WINNERS

There was also a fine run over 750yds from the eye-catching Oakfield Magic.

He stormed home to win by four lengths in 42.39. It was also fitting that the night ended with a fine victory for Melling Road, who is owned and trained by one of the main organizers of the night, Martin Sweeney.

Anyone I’ve spoken to about the evening say it was great to see so many faces that haven’t been seen at the track in some time. There were a number of old pictures, presentation jackets and memorabilia on display and a general sense of warmth and nostalgia about the venue.

Thanks to Martin Sweeney for sending on the pictures of the night. Hopefully, there will be many more big nights at the Kildare venue in the future.