Ireland To Stage Full Pattern Programme

Despite the delayed start to the flat season, Ireland will maintain its full group-race programme for 2019, Horse Racing Ireland revealed on Tuesday when it published the group and listed races and premier handicaps for the year. The majority of the country's Group 1 races remain in their original spots with the exception of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, which moves to July 26 and is now open to horses aged three and up; it was previously for 4-year-olds and older.

Racing resumes in Ireland behind closed doors on June 8, and as previously announced the Classic season will kick off with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on June 12 followed by the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas the next day. The G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Oaks remain in their original slots on June 27 and July 18, respectively, as the does G1 Irish St Leger on Sept. 13 on Irish Champions Weekend. The 2-year-old pattern will begin in early July. Click here for the updated pattern and listed race and premier handicap and nurseries schedule.

Racing in Ireland was held behind closed doors from Mar. 13 to 24, after which it was suspended as the country went into lockdown due to COVID-19. Eighty-seven fixtures were lost.

“The revised list of pattern races published today will see many of them run on their original dates and under their typical conditions, though inevitably some have had date, race conditions and even venue changes to allow them fit into the new schedule,” said Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of HRI. “Apart from the three Group 1 races normally run on Guineas weekend, all other Group 1 races in Ireland will be run on their originally scheduled dates and venues.

“The 2-year-old group race programme will start about six weeks later than normal, in early July, but again the full complement of opportunities will be run between then and season end; 2020 will be anything but a normal year, but in the circumstances we have tried to preserve the opportunities which the Irish race programme offers to the better horse.”