Hard work done but even more to do according to Curragh chief Derek McGrath

Do you hear that? It’s a sound that’s scarcely been heard in these parts for the best part of two years.

The sound is silence and the location is the Curragh racecourse. Such peaceful plains can mean only one thing; that work here is almost done.

It’s hard not to be taken by the beauty of the new-look fixture and, bar one lonely digger that drifts in and out of earshot throughout a morning where Derek McGrath and his team opened the doors to the media for the first time, the only sound is of giddy anticipation.

High up on the third floor of the new state-of-the-art grandstand, a most amazing view of over 800 acres of lush green Curragh plains, spectacular sweeping gallops and some of the finest training establishments can be seen.

In the foreground, a string of five or six horses stride past while off in the distance, one man and his steed make their way to the top of the iconic Old Vic gallop.

There are no silks on show, no bookies shouting out prices, but make no mistake, there’s a real sense of something special on the horizon for Flat racing’s HQ, which will stage its first race meeting on Monday, May 6.

The Curragh: view from the new grandstandCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gone is the underwhelming structure that sat beside one of the most treasured and fairest racetracks in the world and in its place is a new 30,000 capacity venue finally fitting of its billing.

In fact, it’s hard to imagine the old Curragh when walking through the redeveloped structure, which in one sense is a major hat tip to the amount of work that has been carried out over the past two years.

In many ways, the entire structure is a brand new build, and one thing that stands out is the visibility and accessibility, be it to the parade ring or to the track itself.

A lot of work done, but more left to do, was the main message delivered by McGrath.

It’s no secret that the track has been lagging behind in terms of attendance in recent years and, as well as making such figures public knowledge for the first time since 2017, the racecourse chief spoke about his plan to get the locals back on board.

McGrath said: “There’s a lot of excitement and a lot of satisfaction with the product and the quality of the building that is now available to us.

The Curragh: hosts a meeting on May 6Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"But, obviously, we’ve only just turned another page in our storybook and the next part of our story is how people are going to embrace this and what it’s going to do for the sport – that’s the next chapter.”

He added: “We would certainly be looking to significantly increase our numbers. We have targeted numbers. With the facility that we have, we have an ambition to build the number and build what we hope will be a loyal group.

“Some of the research would suggest that maybe 80 per cent of your audience come racing just once per year, so there is a lot of acquisition to be done and there’s a lot of effort to be made to get people to come racing.

"If we can build by 20 per cent, that’s going to improve the return and that’s the type of activity we’ll be building towards.”

You can’t mention numbers without acknowledging that the original €65m estimated to complete the build was last confirmed to be €72m and is expected to exceed €80m upon completion.

The Curragh racecourse redevelopment nears completionCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Different talk for a different day, according to McGrath, who revealed a number of meetings between teams and developers would need to be had before the final costs of the development are made public.

For now, attention deservingly goes to the new Grade A facility. Long enough the Curragh have had to make do with a scarily outdated track, but there’s a real sense that the behemoth that now stands proudly here could prove the catalyst for change.

If there’s any truth in the old chestnut, build it and they will come, then there’s every chance the Curragh will be cock-a-hoop in welcoming back their long lost following in the years to come.

Otherwise, it could be in danger of being the greatest white elephant in the country. As the line beneath the famous clock that hung proudly at the old fixture once read, time discloses all.

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