Tomorrow will see the final race meeting of this millennium at Kilbeggan Racecourse, which has earned a reputation as the success story of Irish racing.
Horses have raced around the Westmeath village for more than 150 years but it was only in 1902 that the racecourse moved to its present home to the north-west of the town.
In that period it has had its ups and downs but the last seven years have been a golden era for the course which stages only national hunt racing.
Seven years ago the track was taken over by a committee of 50 local people who organise the races and oversee the upgrading of facilities.
Since taking control the committee has devoted £1.7 million to bringing the track up to the standard required to stage six evening meetings each year. That has involved in the erection of a new pavilion for corporate entertainment, with a private balcony on the first floor from which up to 300 guests watch races.
The complex also features a bar with snacks laid on, where midlanders meet to savour the unique atmosphere of the Kilbeggan meetings.
Overlooking the course is a tented village where, according to the track manager, Mr Patrick J. Dunican, visitors have a fine view of racing.
Since the new pavilion was opened on May 31st by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, attendance at the races has increased by 20 per cent.
Last year just over 40,000 people watched racing at the course. By the end of tomorrow night's meeting, the attendance figure for 1999 is set to jump to more than 45,000.
"The day of the Midlands National, back in July, the tote take was £131,000. Only Galway during the festival matched that amount this year," Mr Dunican said.
Support from local businesses in the form of sponsorship has also increased and now stands at £85,000. Mr Dunican hopes this figure will continue to rise.
"Any of our evening meetings will inject well over £1 million into the local economy and the business community are responding to that," he said.
"Apart from that the race-goers like coming here for the national hunt racing which the Irish and particularly the Midlanders love."
Mr Dunican said that the aim of the committee is to extend racing at the course and to organise a two-day event.
"We also want to keep improving the facilities at the course, the carparking and the roads around the course and to make the event as pleasurable as possible for the visitors," he said.