South Ayrshire Council is joining in the spirit of the Ayrshire Horse Festival 2007, organised by Ayr Racecourse.

And the Provost of South Ayrshire Council, Winifred Sloan was delighted to be on hand with one of  the Council’s “horses” when the racecourse set off 100 balloons in celebration of  2007 being a special anniversary year  …  it is 100 years since racing first took place at the Craigie course.

Two of the three horses sponsored by South Ayrshire Council and taking part in the promotional activity have rather special "pedigrees".   The  horses are adorned in unique designs which depict images from the internationally renowned  Tam O'Shanter collection of paintings by Scottish artist Alexander Goudie.

In 1996 Alexander Goudie brought Burns' epic poem to life through his dramatic illustrative paintings.  The paintings, which were first exhibited during the Edinburgh Festival, went on sale in 1999. They were bought and returned to their natural home in Ayrshire by South Ayrshire Council with funds from The Fraser Foundation, T.B. Hunter Charitable Trust and The Souter Foundation.

South Ayrshire Council is proud of the fact that the Goudie Collection is on display at the Rozelle House Galleries - and hopes that the planned appearance of our "horses" at two significant locations in Ayr - at Burns Statue Square, and Wellington Square, Ayr - will act as a visible reminder to residents and visitors of the Goudie Collection, and will encourage visits to view the full collection.

A third South Ayrshire Council “horse” taking part in the Ayrshire Horse Festival has been produced in “livery” designed to create awareness and promote the Council’s Household Waste Initiative – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Provost Winifred Sloan, pictured holding the Royal Burgh of Ayr Trophy, first presented in 1976, alongside a Council “horse”  featuring a section of one of  Alexander Goudie’s collection of paintings depicting Burns’ Tam O’Shanter.

Provost Winifred Sloan and Ayr Racecourse Chairman Alan Macdonald are pictured beside one of the horses sponsored by South Ayrshire Council, depicting the artistic work of Alexander Goudie, as the balloons are launched to celebrate 100 years of racing at the Craigie course.

April 2007