Arkle statue project gets boost from Bellewstown race day

A huge crowd thronged Bellewstown last Thursday for the final day of the season at the hillside track where an array of Arkle memorabilia was on display as part of the drive to raise funds for a statue of the legendary racehorse in Ashbourne. Kevin Coleman and the Bellewstown executive, along with Horseracing Ireland, facilitated an Arkle Legends Race which generated lots of interest and a substantial amount of money for the statue fund. According to Sean Lynch, a member of the committee behind the project, the indications are that close to €20,000 was raised. "It was a great occasion and we got tremendous support from everyone. It was a memorable day," Lynch said as he prepared to head off for Australia as manager of the Irish jockeys' team for the annual joust with the host nation. Dual Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle-winning jockey Conor O'Dwyer proved the best of the legends in the race when he partnered Bullock Harbour to an easy success in the Foley's Antiques Supporting The Arkle Memorial Statue Fund maiden. Navan resident Joe Byrne was sent off the 2/1 favourite on the Pat Martin-trained Donatis Comet and challenged briefly in the home straight after Kilmessan's Adrian Maguire had set a blistering pace with Teak. Trainer/rider Adrian Maguire took them along at a brisk pace in the 1m6f event aboard Teak. He had no answer, however, as O'Dwyer loomed large on the Jessica Harrington-trained Bullock Harbour at the two furlong marker. The 11/4 second favourite soon kicked clear and was easing up inside the final furlong to record a four-and-a-half length success. Priors Gold and Norman Williamson took the runner-up position with Teak in third and Donatis Comet in fourth place. Robbie Hennessy, Jason Titley, Gerry Dowd, Arthur Moore and Dermot McLoughlin, whose late father, Liam, was the first jockey to win on Arkle, also competed in the race. The legendary Lester Piggot was a special guest and was accompanied by Sean Magee who wrote the book 'Arkle: The Life And Legacy of Himself'. Emma McDermott will be working hard to capture the famous Arkle "pose" in the planned statue. She was born in Dublin and attended St Martin's College of Art in London. Over her career, she has completed a life-size statue of Sadler's Wells for Coolmore Stud, Vintage Crop for Dr Michael Smurfit, Nijinsky for Vincent O'Brien and Ridgewood Pearl for Sean Coughlan, and describes Arkle as one of her dream projects. The Arkle Memorial Statue Committee is now working on the fundraising activities necessary to support the successful completion of the project. This Arkle statue will be erected on the main street of Ashbourne as a symbol of the great history of the area and of one of Ireland's greatest sporting legacies. The statue will also pay tribute to Arkle's owner, Anne, Duchess of Westminster; his trainer, Tom Dreaper; jockeys Pat Taaffe, Paddy Woods, Liam McLoughlin, TP Burns and Mark Hely-Hutchinson, and all who worked with him, cared for him and raced against him. The Arkle Memorial Statue Fund committee is comprised of Jim Dreaper, Lynsey Dreaper, Paddy Woods (Arkle's former work rider), Pat Byrne, Sean Lynch, Jimmy Finlay and Colm Finlay (of Bambury Bookmakers), Paddy Gorman, Breandán " Cathasaigh and PJ Durkan. Barry Geraghty was the man to follow at Bellewstown last Thursday where he recorded a hat-trick of winners. He won the mares maiden hurdle with Bessie Lou for Kilkenny trainer Michael Fitzgerald, a handicap hurdle for Hennessy with Magnetic Force and he also scored with Jacksons Lady. Noel Meade and Paul Carberry were in the winners' enclosure with Original Option while Andy Lynch got another win out of Ahorsecalledmolly which dead-heated with Cerveza Dinero. Winner of the Littlewoods Ireland Best Dressed Lady at Bellewstown Racecourse on Thursday evening was Caroline Webb from Ratoath, chosen by TV3 presenter Sinead Desmond. Her winning outfit included a lime green hat from Jackie's in Drogheda and a bird of pardise coat that she got at a clothes swap evening. Caroline is a riding instructor and attended the races with her children. She said: "I am delighted with the fantastic prize from Littlewoods Ireland. I was totally shocked when I was chosen as the style was so good and there was great competition. This is my first time getting dressed up and attending the races. The weather was great also, which is always a bonus and I had a superb day." Caroline won a €2,000 shopping spree with Littlewoods Ireland, the online department store, while the nine finalists received a €100 shopping voucher.