The Punchestown Festival made it through day three yesterday despite some of the most challenging weather conditions in living memory.  Taoiseach Enda Kenny was there and paid tribute to the ground staff that made racing possible albeit with a curtailed card of only five races.
The attendance figures held up better than might have been expected given the uncertainty over whether racing would take place and the smaller fields but the presence of four time Cheltenham winner Quevega was a big help.
Yesterday’s crowd of 13, 286 was down on the 2011 figure of 15,527 but the bigger drop was in betting turnover, down from over €1.5 million 12 months ago to €656,205 yesterday.  That represents an average betting turnover per racegoer of €50.
Today’s meeting is again limited to five races, the feature of which is the Rabobank Direct Champion Hurdle for which former Cheltenham Champion Hurricane Fly will be odds on favourite to add to his impressive big race tally.
Friday’s Main News Stories
Paralympics secures 10 hours a day of free to air coverage
RSA extends Irish Cricket Support
Punchestown keeps show on the road
Fan the Flame for Special Olympics
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