E750,000 worth of Punchestown Festival tickets presold

08 April 2003: In excess of three-quarters of a million euros worth of tickets have been presold for the upcoming Punchestown Festival, which will be held over four days from 29 April.

Ten Grade 1 races are part of the card, and while BMW is the main sponsor as usual for the first day, more than half of the total sponsorship for the festival is thanks to the goodwill of local businesses.

Prize money will be more than E1.5 million.

A newly-developed 'Northern Enclosure' will attempt to revive the family atmosphere which was for several generations the 'real' Punchestown but which has disappeared over recent years with the greater emphasis on providing for the well-heeled racegoers.

It will cost E10 for a family ticket which will provide access to carnival rides, food facilities and bars.

There was no Punchestown Festival last year, and the track has not been raced for a year and a half.

Story by
Brian Byrne

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