The attendance at Punchestown for Tuesday’s opening day of the Festival was up by five per cent at a figure of 14,345.  Members of the Irish soccer team were there with Boylesports who sponsored the day’s main race.
Elsewhere in racing, Edward Gillespie is to step down from his role as Managing Director at Cheltenham Racecourse.  Gillespie has been in the position for 32 years, since taking it on at the age of 27.  This year’s Final Day of the Festival was his 100th at the helm and it was marked by a record single day and aggregate attendance.
“I will be 60 years old in July and, while part of me feels I could carry on ­forever, I’m conscious that my ­sporting heroes have bowed out at the top of their game, carrying their bats so to speak,” said Gillespie.  “I’ve been here for a long time, so I would love to get involved in other projects within sport or business in the last few years of my career.”
Always noted as being a very cool and calm manager of the sport’s biggest days he has overseen the transformation of the Cheltenham Festival into one of the biggest events in British, and irish Sport.  He won a lifetime achievement award at last year’s Sport Industry awards and is likely to stay on within racing to work on specific projects.
The search for his replacement has begun with a strong internal list of candidates at Cheltenham and throughout the Jockey Club Group which owns the course.
Wednesday’s Main News Stories
Irish cricket cracking new audiences
Ireland highlighted as olympic beneficiary
Punchestown up as Gillespie steps down
Open unlikely for Ireland in near future
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