It is less than a month until the Cheltenham Racing Festival gets underway in England for the 2024 edition.
It is the equivalent of Christmas for horse racing enthusiasts with thousands travelling over from Ireland every year.
But before the event itself, Ballinakill GAA club are set to host their very own Preview Night in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel on Friday, March 1.
Organisers have assembled a star-studded panel to take part on the night and this preview night is certainly unique as it includes a three course meal.
Tickets are priced at €75 and everyone who buys a ticket will also be entered into a draw for All-Ireland final tickets.
Ballinakill’s Shane McEvoy is the driving force behind it all and he explained where the idea came from.
He said: “I was driving home from work one day and was listening to a racing podcast.
“I’m a massive racing fan, and they were talking about a preview night.
“There aren’t many around here and I said I’d try to organise one myself in aid of the club and do something on the night for the injured jockeys just to give something back.
“There are loads of preview nights around that are €20 and €30 to go to but this one is a bit different with the three course meal and the auction.”
Shane revealed some details about the auction that will take place and explained how funds will go towards the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.
He said: “I have some great things to auction off for people who are into racing.
“We have a morning for six at Gordon Elliot’s yard and a morning below with Shark Hanlon where you get to meet Hewick.
“That would be a great morning. I was in Shark’s myself before Cheltenham a couple of years ago and he’s some character.
“That is a flavour of what will be on auction on the night.”
The night will be MC’d by David Jennings and the panel of guests, who will come on after the meal at 8.30pm, are very impressive.
Johnny Dineen of The Racing Post, trainer Shark Hanlon and Paddy Power’s Frank Hickey are on the panel.
While so too are trainer Gavin Cromwell and jockey Mikey O’Sullivan along with Ian ‘Busty’ Amond who works with trainer Gordon Elliott.
Shane said: “It should be a great night with a bit of fun and the lads are all great characters.
“Busty and Johnny Dineen are a laugh a minute so it should be very enjoyable I hope.”
Shane says the support he has received thus far has been brilliant and thanked everyone for their help in setting up the event.
He said: “Alex in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel was very helpful in getting a date set.
“Eimear Barry has also been brilliant helping out with posters and Evan Dunne was the man behind the poster design which is brilliant.
“It’s like what the great JP McManus said one time about the difference in being involved in something and committed to something:
“‘The difference between being involved and being committed is like when you have bacon and eggs for breakfast. The hen was involved, the pig was committed’ – well Eimear and Evan were definitely committed.”
Tickets are available to purchase online here or from the Manor Hotel itself.
Doors open at 6.30pm on March 1 with the meal getting underway at 7.15pm. While the panel discussion will start at 8.30pm.
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