Eamonn McEvoy to succeed Tom Ryan as new general manager at Naas

Eamonn McEvoy has been appointed the new general manager at Naas and will take up his position on July 22.

McEvoy, who has been racing and stud manager for Rick Barnes of Grangecon Stud for the past eight years, previously worked on stud farms in Britain, the US and Australia and was manager of HH Prince Sultan Al Kabeer’s breeding operation in Saudi Arabia where he was also closely involved in the development of a new track.

Dermot Cantillon, chairman of Naas, said: "We are delighted to appoint Eamonn as our general manager. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry and we are excited for Eamonn to bring his knowledge, experience, passion and drive to Naas racecourse.

McEvoy, a native of Clogherhead, County Louth, said: “Naas is one of the most progressive tracks in the country and its status has greatly improved in recent years. I am excited to take on the role as general manager and I look forward to working with a proactive board and team.”

McEvoy succeeds Tom Ryan who has been Naas manager for almost 13 years and who will be taking up the position of Director of Strategy & International Racing at the Equestrian Club of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Captain Luke Mullins dies aged 97

Captain Luke Mullins, who was manager of Galway racecourse from the early 1970s until 1989, died on Friday at the age of 97.

A brother of the late Paddy Mullins and uncle of Ireland's multiple champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins, he was a captain in the Irish army.

He was also a racehorse owner and enjoyed his biggest win when Negrada, trained by his brother, Paddy, won the Galway Hurdle in 1976, ridden by Sean Treacy.

Leading riders among Arabian pipe-opener

David Probert, Dane O'Neill and Royston Ffrench are among the riders competing in the Purebred Arabian race before the thoroughbred opener at Chepstow on Monday.

A field of seven was declared for the £3,000 1m4f handicap, with trainers Philip Collington and James Owen saddling three runners apiece.

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