The competition is heating up both on and off the track at Naas Racecourse. The Kildare track recently launched a new initiative which aims to encourage locals to embrace their local racetrack and to connect with the local community in a meaningful way. To celebrate the Naas Town Goes Racing meeting on Saturday 6th July, several ancillary events are taking place off the track in Naas town.

Naas Racecourse, often referred to as the nursery of champions, has joined forces with Tidy Towns and Caragh Nurseries in a bid to search for the tidiest estate in Naas! Residents associations in Naas are being asked to put their best garden forward along with various other elements to try and win a €500 voucher sponsored by the award winning Caragh Nurseries. The voucher can be spent by the Residents Association to purchase everything from flora to trees!

There are six categories up for grabs as part of the competition: best front garden, best street within an estate, best entrance into an estate, best shop floral display and a biodiversity award. To enter, take as many photos as you like and put the name of the estate at the back of each photo along with the date and submit with a completed application form. Application forms will be delivered to homes in Naas over the coming week and will be available to pick up in Naas Public Library. Please hand the entry form back to Naas Public Library, the Harbour (there will be an entry box located in the library) before 2nd July 2019. Entries can also be e-mailed to naastidytowns@gmail.com.

Director of Caragh Nurseries, Jo McGarry said, “It is great to be part of a local community initiative where people that encourages people to have sense of pride and joy in the place they live. We are delighted to sponsor the search for the best estate and wish all the applicants the best of luck”.

Also included in the ancillary of events taking place as part of Naas Town Goes Racing is an art competition for 4th, 5th and 6th class students. Students are being asked to take their inspiration from the racing champions of tomorrow and draw a racehorse at Naas Racecourse! The winning child will receive five complimentary admission tickets with lunch in the restaurant for two adults and three children and a hamper of art supplies. Plus, their whole class with get a pair of complimentary tickets each to the races on the 6th of July. The winner will also be presented with their prize on the day in the parade ring and the winning piece of artwork will be reproduced in the race card at the ‘Naas Town Goes Racing’ meeting. Entries must be posted or delivered to Jackie Donohoe before the 7th of June to Naas Racecourse, Tipper Road, Naas, Co. Kildare.

The Naas Town Goes Racing Day will run on Saturday, the 6th of July. The day itself will feature top class racing and will include lots of activities for families and children including face painting, novelty mascot characters, live music and a BBQ. Local traders are also invited to reserve a pop-up unit at a significantly reduced rate at the track in order to promote their business on the day. Each trader who books space will also be provided with 10 complimentary admission tickets, race card advertising and their brand will feature on the large screens at the track.

For more details on the Naas Tidy Towns Competition sponsored by Caragh Nurseries, the art competition or to book promotional space for the day contact Jackie Donohoe at Naas Racecourse on (045) 897391. For more on Naas Racecourse see the new website www.naasracecourse.com or follow their Instagram of Facebook accounts which can be found at naasracecourse.