It’s good to make plans to travel.

Living in England, you’d think I would be well travelled in the United Kingdom but sadly I haven’t ventured to Wales, Scotland or Ireland.

To be fair, I haven’t been to many racecourses but a trip to the Emerald Isle has been promised for far too long. In fact, I have plans to go to Killarney Racecourse which sits in the picturesque landscape of County Kerry.

It’s in the southern region and the province of Munster.

Horse racing is part of the Irish culture and the mountains of McGillycuddy’s Reeks have been whispering their name ever since I saw a photograph of the racecourse, nestled in the woodlands, a stones throw from Ross Castle and Loch Lien which is the largest of three lakes in Killarney.

Killarney Racecourse also known at ‘The Kingdom’ dates back to 1822. This left-handed oval course with a circuit of one mile two furlongs is one of the oldest racecourse in Ireland and hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing.

There are 13 meetings planned for 2024 from Sunday May 12th – Monday 7th October. Seven fixtures dedicated to the National Hunt including Ladies Day on Friday 19th July. Tickets for Lee Strand Best Dressed (a prize for best dressed man and woman) cost 25 Euros. This meeting starts at approximately 1:45pm.

In general, the cost of entry is 20 Euros.

Dining at Killarney Racecourse includes The Panoramic Restaurant with views of the Killarney National Park, Ross Castle, The Lakes of Killarney and McGillycuddy Reeks.

For a variety of hospitality packages contact the racecourse.

A sample menu includes:

Starters – Chicken Liver Pate, Fantail Of Galia Melon or Cream Of Leek & Potato Soup.

Main Course: Honey Roasted Loin Of Bacon, Fillet Of Hake, Oven Roasted Bell Peppers.

Dessert: Tiramisu, Chocolate Praline, Rhubarb & Strawberry Cheesecake.

In addition, there is a BBQ Package, Carvery and Refreshment Options.

Also, there’s the Jim Culloty Bar which offers live music and the best pint of Guinness you will ever drink.

For those who are interested in annual membership to the course it costs 180 Euros, while double membership costs 270 Euros. This includes:

  • 2 Tickets for every Killarney race day (13 fixtures)

  • 2 Complimentary tickets to selected race days at Mallow, Limerick and Punchestown

  • Entrance to bar/private members area at Killarney Racecourse

  • Horse racing enthusiast social meet and greet

  • Entry into several members draws

  • Entry into The Grand National draw

Annual membership to the Ross Golf Course (which is in the centre of the racecourse) costs 350 Euros for new members. This nine hole golf course was opened in 1995 and one of the most scenic in Ireland.

Travelling from London Stansted Airport to Kerry Airport takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and a round trip with Ryanair and costs just £30 without luggage.

The splendid Lake Hotel on the shore of Loch Lein with mountain views cost from £101 – £180 per night.

You can get to the Killarney Racecourse in 15 minutes from Kerry Airport, while Shannon and Cork Airports are 90 minutes.

Sea Access to Killarney is via ferry from Rosslare, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Belfast and Larne.

A train and bus station are just half mile from Killarney Racecourse and 10 minutes walk from the town centre.

Why not add to the occasion travelling by horse and carriage (Jaunty car) to enjoy the fresh air and splendid views.

I can’t wait to get to Killarney and enjoy some of that famous Irish hospitality and more.

Nick Mordin On Time  I’m pretty sure Nick Mordin has always been a punctual kind of man.

When he phoned my brother he was both punctual and courteous. That was a long time ago back in 1994 when he called about using some data my brother had gathered about two-year-old horse racing, specifically group-entered juveniles. Mordin was fascinated by the five year study which was the largest in the world. They chatted about the research which concluded with him asking for permission to write an article or two. I think Mordin was excited but surprised that my brother allowed him to use the information as most people would keep it close to their chest.

A month later, an article appeared in the Sporting Life’s Weekender, which came out every Wednesday, a double-page spread titled: In A Class of their Own: How to Spot Top-Notch Two-year-olds. I am sure the article was well received, and Mordin followed up a week later with another article how to improve the use of this groundbreaking data. People still remember the article and I like to think it was one of the best articles he ever produced.

Nick Mordin was always a consummate professional. He wrote four publication full of wisdom.

My brother and I purchased three of the four.

The only one I haven’t purchased (which I intend to) is Winning Without Thinking: A Guide to Horse Racing Betting Systems, published by Aesculus Press Limited 2003.

At this time, I’m reading Mordin On Time was published by Aesculus Press Limited 1996.

The blurb says: ‘I have made thousands of pounds from betting on horses. And most of that money has come from using the speed ratings you’ll find explained in this book.’

The book has 18 chapters and 128 pages.

The basis of the book follows the maxim: ‘Why time is the best measure of a horse, and how to use it.’

I will be reading this book in the next few days and looking forward to it.

I noticed the book is something of a rarity for horse racing fans and I have seen it on sale for £80.

My brother had been writing notes all over the pages so I think any value has disappeared. But, thankfully, the words are still as insightful as ever.

Always a good read.

I watch a YouTube channel called Dry Creek Wrangler. Dwayne is a horse man but most of his subscribers are interested in his words of wisdom.

He’s an old sage. The kind of man you would like to sit down by a camp fire, and just chat about life.

This week’s video is titled: Do not go gentle…

Do you have a sense of adventure?

Even if it terrifies you.

It keeps you alive.

He says: ‘A rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out!’

You don’t want to sit in your chair and think about the last five years of your life reflecting why you quit doing something because you lost your sense of adventure.

Don’t let concerns deter you.

It’s so easy to let the old man in you quit and realise you lived those final years with regret. Get out of your comfort zone. A gambling adventure doesn’t mean you have to be like a crazy man who sold his gold teeth. Plan to do something that tests you. Go somewhere different. Don’t lose that sense of adventure. Don’t live a half life. Go to the races, stop, look around and enjoy the moment. You were given a life to live. Don’t quit living. Get that money out of your pocket and put it down and get your heart jumping again. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Feel alive and you will feel a whole lot better. After you’ve been to the races, go to the casino. Go have a few drinks and enjoy the adventure. Too many people are sitting doing nothing. Waiting for nothing. Hoping for nothing. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Tomorrow could be the best day of your life.

But it means you may have to step out of your comfort zone. For some people it is just about poking your head outside the front door.

What’s around the next corner?

Whose around the next corner?

Where is the next corner?

The most amazing things happen when you take a chance.

Dwayne never thought he would get 1000 YouTube subscribers let alone 870,000. He never thought he would have a successful riding school. He never imagined Penguin Random House would contact him to write a book. But most of all, he never thought his words would inspire others to change their life, find strength in times of difficulty or open their eyes to the greatest adventures.

Find some adventure…

Take a gamble on life.