Stable staff 'satisfied' with Killarney after severe criticism of the course

Not brilliant, but better. That was the feedback from stable staff regarding facilities and food offered at Killarney on Monday for the first of the track's five fixtures this week.

It followed severe criticism about how they were treated on their last visit to the track in May.

Bernard Caldwell, chairman of the Irish Stable Staff Association, blasted track officials for the way his members had been treated at Killarney before their July festival, and said grooms were threatening action if improvements were not made.

A dirty canteen and unsuitable food were the two main complaints but the message seemed to have got through as Caldwell said stable staff were satisfied on both fronts.

'There was nobody giving out'

Caldwell said: "It was a lot better at Killarney on Monday. Not brilliant, and the canteen could certainly be bigger, but it was much better and stable staff were much happier. They were satisfied with everything. It was a big improvement on the last meeting there.

"There were a lot more food options too. They had chicken curry, chicken goujons and chips, a selection of sandwiches, as well as free teas, coffees and bottles of water.

"I was happy enough with everything and pleased to see that improvements had been made. There was nobody giving out on Monday evening, which was great to see."

Bernard Caldwell: 'I would urge all tracks to have card readers for stable staff'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Caldwell did make one request, not just for Killarney but all Irish racecourses, in asking for stable staff canteens to have a card reader for payments rather than only accepting cash.

He said: "They were only accepting cash originally at Killarney on Monday but, in fairness, they went and got a card reader so people could pay with their cards.

"So fair play to them for doing that. I would urge all tracks to have card readers for stable staff to use as a lot of them don't carry cash to the races anymore."

Now read this . . .

'Disgraceful' – Windsor slammed for 'crap' food offered to stable staff

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