Kristin McKenzie-Vass with little jockey Katie McCarron and Kerry Rose Mary Hickey with jockey Jamie Kelly on ‘Felix’ pictured at the launch of the annual Listowel Races which will take place from Sunday 14th to Saturday 20th of September. Photo by Don MacMonagle
MID-SEPTEMBER can only mean one thing in Kerry: Listowel Race Week.
Thousands of racing and fashion fans from Tralee and all over the county will converge on ‘the Island’ for what is essentially the end of the summer in north Kerry.
And the highlight for most will be the Chic Boutique Ladies Day on Friday, September 19 where upwards of 30,000 people are expected to watch the most stylish women in the county strut their stuff for the judges.
Patricia and Mary O’Flaherty of Chic Boutique will be celebrating their 25th anniversary sponsoring Ladies Day, making it the longest independent retailer sponsorship in Ireland today.
Once again, Ladies Day will be judged by TV personality and Kerryman, Daithi O Se and style icon and model agent, Celia Holman Lee.
The total Ladies Day prize fund is €9,000 and the winner of the Chic Boutique Best Dressed Lady will receive a €2,000 voucher for Chic boutique, plus €500 in cash, and a limited edition print from artist Olive Stack.
The 1st runner up receives a €500 voucher for Chic Boutique and €250 in cash and the 2nd runner up receives a €250 voucher for Chic Boutique and €250 in cash. All 15 finalists will receive a bottle of sparking wine and a €150 Chic Boutique Goodie Bag.
In addition to this – and the top quality National Hunt and Flat racing of course – the Listowel Racing Committee have also organised an extensive range of free entertainment, daily race card draws with cash prizes, promotions, music and more, to get everyone, of every age, into the festive atmosphere and partake in the fun that is synonymous with racing in Listowel.
Highlights include the Guinness Kerry National Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) Chase on Wednesday 17th; the €40k Guinness Handicap Hurdle on Thursday 18th and the Listowel Races Supporters Club Sponsored Race ‘The Slan Abhaile” on Saturday 20th September.
The Best Dressed Man precedes Ladies Day on Thursday 18th. Admission is €20 each day / OAP / Students: €12 and children under 14 are free.
Listowel Race Week runs from Sunday, September 14 to Saturday, September 20.
For more details, click here
