Irish Racing Unlikely In May

It appears unlikely that racing in Ireland will return in May, with the department of agriculture, food and the marine confirming on Thursday that racing falls under the umbrella of outdoor sports behind closed doors that will not be permitted to resume until the country's third tier of re-opening on June 29.

The government has said it will consider proposals from sectors that wish to have restrictions lifted earlier, and Horse Racing Ireland said in a release on Thursday evening that it is in ongoing talks with the government. There is hope that racing could be moved up to the second tier of resumption, which would see restrictions lifted on June 8.

“Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish racing community are fully supportive of the Government and the Chief Medical Officer for the way in which they have handled this unprecedented public health emergency,” said HRI Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. “Through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine there has been constructive engagement with various Government departments this week on the basis that racing will only resume behind closed doors when it is deemed safe and appropriate.”

Kavanagh pointed out that race meetings were held behind closed doors prior to the country's lockdown in March.

“Prior to Mar. 24, race fixtures were among the last group of Tier 2 commercial activities to continue with 10 fixtures staged safely behind closed doors with only key personnel permitted on site,” he said. “Horse Racing Ireland's Covid-19 protocols, which were in place for those fixtures have been further strengthened in the meantime and we feel that the industry can safely resume sooner rather than later and will continue to engage with Government on that basis.”