Irish horse racing

Prizemoney in Ireland will reach €64.8-million in 2022, an increase from 2021 and second only to 2019 levels. That prizemoney will be paid out over 390 fixtures. Horse Racing Ireland's 2022 budget also includes an increase in funding for the IRE Incentive Scheme, which will pay out €1.3-million in vouchers for Irish-bred horses at Irish sales; the scheme was worth €1.1-million this year. HRI will also increase funding for the point-to-point sector to a record €2.5-million. HRI will increase funds directed to industry education and training to €13.4-million, and approved...

In line with government guidelines and re-opening procedures, Horse Racing Ireland has ammended a number of its COVID-19 protocols, and has revealed that from July 20 up to two owners per horse will be allowed on course for their race(s). Before that, from July 1, the prohibition on racecourse attendees over the age of 70 will be removed; the limit on journalists and photographers will be increased to five from three; one representative of associations whose attendees are permitted to be at race meetings will be allowed; and premier handicaps...

With the resumption of Irish racing looming on June 8, Horse Racing Ireland has released its full flat programme for July through to the end of the Galway Festival that concludes on Aug. 2. There will be 28 racing days through the month, including three days with double meetings and three blank days. The G1 Irish Oaks festival on July 18 and 19 has been enhanced with three Group 2 races added to the weekend: the Curragh Cup for older stayers and the Railway S. and Balanchine S. for 2-year-olds....

Irish racing will resume on June 8 with a card at Naas, with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas set for Friday, June 12 at The Curragh, and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas the following day. The G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Oaks remain on their traditional dates of June 27 and July 18, respectively, while Irish Champions Weekend will take place Sept. 12 and 13. International participation will be restricted to Group 1 and 2 races only for June, with personnel required to comply with government policy on the...

In the wake of Friday's announcement that racing will begin again in Ireland on June 8, Horse Racing Ireland on Saturday published a protocol document outlining the procedures that will be in place for operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The procedures, developing by HRI in consultation with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, must be undertaken by all racecourses hosting fixtures. A series of educational webinars will be announced next week to further assist understanding. "We have worked closely with the IHRB and the Senior Medical Officer Dr Jennifer Pugh in...

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has confirmed that it has been given the green light by government for racing to resume from Monday, June 8. Early on Friday afternoon, Fine Gael politician Peter Burke stated on Twitter, "Horse Racing to return behind closed doors with strict protocols from June 8th. Much needed certainty for the sector." HRI later issued a statement in support of this which read, "Horse Racing Ireland today welcomed the confirmation from the Government that race fixtures in Ireland can resume behind closed doors on June 8. Only...

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...