The Board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has agreed to conclude the 2019/2020 National Hunt season, effective immediately, with the spring festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown not to be rescheduled as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We have stressed throughout that Government and HSE guidelines around fighting Covid-19 must come first and racing will only be able to resume when the Government guidelines permit and when there is adequate medical cover in place to ensure that race meetings can be staged safely,” said Nicky Hartery, Chairman of Horse Racing Ireland. “No-one can predict when this point will be reached.”
An enhanced National Hunt programme will be scheduled later for October to December 2020, which will include the 2020 BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland said, “While the conclusion of the National Hunt season is a major blow for that sector and jump racing enthusiasts, in making an early decision we want to give as much certainty as possible to owners and trainers and this plan will allow winter National Hunt horses to take advantage of summer grass, reducing the costs for National Hunt owners, with the knowledge of an enhanced programme to come for them from the Autumn onwards, circumstances permitting.”
The Board has also discussed a strategy–a staggered resumption of racing for one month–for Irish racing's return, while remaining within Government guidelines. Racing is expected to restart on the Flat and likely behind closed doors, with adherence to protocols employed at 10-race fixtures in March.
“We are working on a range of industry supports which we hope to announce in the coming weeks,” Kavanagh added. “Once an achievable target resumption date can be identified, a new fixture list covering the rest of the year will be quickly published based on our on-going work, along with revised race programmes which will cater for the entire horse population.”
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