Over the years many things have changed at the Listowel Races; the stands, the style and the weather from time to time. But celebrating 160 years of racing on the course in 2018, the thrill of the track remains as pulsating as ever; thundering hooves, cheering stands, torn-up betting slips and toasts of celebration.

One of the longest established race meetings in the country, this year over the seven days of the Listowel Harvest Racing Festival, from Sunday 9 September to Saturday 15 September, punters can expect electrifying racing. The stakes are high too, with the prize money totalling over €1.3m.

Listowel is undoubtedly a standout event in the racing calendar, but hand-in-hand with that it is too a standout event in the social calendar. There will be free entertainment on the course daily and Listowel Town comes alive in every corner and crevice also, with music, dancing and tonnes of craic.

Throughout the week both family and fashion are incorporated into the festival, with the Kerry Group Family Day on Sunday, the Best Dressed Man Competition sponsored by East River/Emerald Properties on Thursday and the Listowel Tidy Town/An Taisce Best Presentation of an Up cycled/Restyled or Authentic Vintage Outfit judged by Orlagh Winters on Saturday.

However, well known across the country, the highlight social event in Listowel is McElligott's Honda Ladies Day, this year judged by Aoibhín Garrihy who will be assisted by Marietta Doran. The overall best dressed lady will win a Honda Civic for a year and €3,000 in cash, with further cash prizes of €3,500 to be won on the day also. The Best Dressed Man Competition on Thursday will be judged by Red Rock actress Carol O’Reilly and there will be a total prize fund of €1,000 up for grabs.

For all those making the effort to dress to impress on Ladies Day, for a third year the ‘save your heels - we have got wheels’ Listowel Races double decker bus will return. The bus is free and will depart every half hour from 12 noon at Listowel Town Square.

Admission is €20 each day for adults, for OAP/students it costs €12 and children under 12 get free admission to the race course when accompanied by an adult. Generous group, corporate, sports clubs and pre-booking discounts are also available, including a seven day ticket for the price of five days and a 20% discount for the pre-purchase of 20 tickets or more. All tickets can be purchased online at https://listowelraces.ie/.

Racing highlights throughout the week:

Sunday 9 September

€40,000 Kerry Group Handicap Steeplechase

Monday 10 September

€55,000 Premier Handicap

Tuesday 11 September

€55,000 Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle (Grade B)

Wednesday 12 September

€200,000 Guinness Kerry National Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A)

Thursday 13 September

€100,000 Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Friday 14 September