Records smashed at best ever Punchestown Festival for crowds

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu7VlkemUb0&feature=youtu.be Record-breaking attendance at the Punchestown Festival on AES Family Day. 2018: 35,948 2017: 34,370 Up 1,578 Overall attendance: 2018: 127,489 2017: 122,557 Up 4,932 Nina Carberry announces her retirement from race riding after the first race which she won for Enda Bolger on Josies Orders in the famous JP McManus colours. Nina is the second lady rider to hang up her boots this week as her sister-in-law Katie Walsh also retired. This Punchestown Festival marks the end of an era for two of our country’s best female jockeys as they look ahead to the next chapters in their respective careers. The feature race the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle was won by Benie Des Dieux for Rich Ricci trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend.   The AES Schools Art Competition was won by Abbey MacNamara from Scoil Bhride Kilcullen, Punchestown boss Dick O’Sullivan commented “What a marvellous week this has been here at the Punchestown Festival with so many highlights to celebrate from the opening of our brand new facility the Hunt Stand which was received so well, to Faugheen coming back to his best and seeing two fine lady riders Nina (Carberry) and Katie (Walsh) hanging up their boots, everyday there was some huge festival story. Most of all the celebration here is the festival itself and the people behind it who came in their droves to enjoy this magical event that we are all so proud of. The fine weather today is of huge benefit to the family day, the crowd everyone from new-born to 90 years and it is really heartening to see the locals really supporting us with a massive attendance 35,948. The attendance figure of almost 27,500 is exceptional and a testament to the team here who put their heart and soul into making this the incredible success it is. We would be nowhere without the loyal support of our sponsors and would like to thank them all for helping us to make our dreams a reality. The new development, the first in twenty years has been warmly received and it is only fitting that we give our loyal supporters facilities that they deserve, and I would like to give a special word of thanks to the Chairman, the Board, Trustees and general membership for being a really united team.”