Curragh aiming to get back on right track while Galway faces a harsh reality

First, the good news. Since this column has been vocal in criticising the Curragh management team and board in recent months, it is only fair to acknowledge how the track's new chief executive Pat Keogh has acted swiftly to provide racegoers with less restricted access to the new facilities and to make changes to the layout with the aim of making the venue more customer friendly.

It would be naive to assume Keogh can restore lost goodwill on his own. A sea change in strategic thinking is required from board level down. Nor does the removal of Keogh's predecessor Derek McGrath alter the basic facts of the matter, namely that a development project which came in roughly 25 per cent over budget at €81 million was exposed on Irish Derby day as incapable of coping effectively with a crowd of rather less than half its 30,000 capacity.

The Curragh is now facing into four Friday evening fixtures in August which offer the opportunity to begin the drive to rebuild a local customer base in the Kildare area.