President to attend Friday's Kilbeggan Races

 

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins will attend next Friday's Kilbeggan Races and present the trophy for the races' calendar centrepiece, the Midlands National.

Paddy Dunican, Manager, of Kilbeggan Racecourse said: “We are delighted that President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins will attend Kilbeggan Races on Friday, July 20. Our Midlands National Race Meeting is the feature event of the year and it’s a great honour for us to have President Higgins present the Midlands National Trophy to the winning owner”. It will be a great opportunity for people to see the President on the biggest occasion of the year for Kilbeggan with the Midland’s National and the annual Best Dressed Ladies Competition.

The first ever Midlands National was won by a horse called Cristy’s Picnic trained by Mouse Morris and it had a touch of Hollywood and the movies as two of the owners in the syndicate were Neil Jordan, Director and actor Stephen Rea.

The race worth €50,000 has become one of the main steeplechases during the summer racing season.

Meanwhile, the Bellaminanta Luxury Tanning and Wineport Lodge Best Dressed Ladies competition will also be held at Friday's meeting.

Two of the best judges in Ireland Valerie Roe and Bairbre Powerwill be judging the event this year. Valerie Roe has had a busy working career as Miss Ireland, modelling, singing, and managing the famed Lillie Bordello’s and meeting celebrities from The Rolling Stones to Leonardo de Caprio.

Bairbre Power is Fashion Editor of the Irish Independent and Weekend Magazine and on Twitter is one of Ireland’s main style influences. The prizes include a year’s supply of Bellamianta Luxury Tan for the winner worth €500; a voucher worth €500 from 3D Ireland; a set of beauty work hair extensions, applied by top stylist Sarah Ethel worth €1,000; a prize of a private collection dress and bespoke hat by Irish Milliner Deb Fanning, worth €500. The Wineport Lodge in Glasson, Athlone, have been regular sponsors of the Best Dressed Ladies competition at Kilbeggan over the last few years. Their wonderful prize includes a VIP weekend in Wineport, comprising 2 nights in the newly refurbished champagne suite (including a bottle of champagne, flowers, chocolates, and a luxury bath basket). Breakfast and dinner (2 days) and VOYA body treatment each, plus a luxury VOYA product hamper. The Wineport Lodge and Bellamianta Luxury Tanning will also supply goodie bags to the 10 shortlisted ladies.

 

 

The seven race card provides admission for adults €15, Students & OAP €12, special discounts for staff customers, and friends for a group of 10 or more, with admission discounted to €12 per person. A Special Discounted Summer Party Pack includes Admission ticket+€5 Drink Voucher+ €5 Food Voucher and Race Card for just €22 per person for a group of €10 or more.

First race is at 5.55pm