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Crowd Capacity Increased at Irish Racecourses From Sept. 6

Irish racecourses can host up to 50% of their outdoor capacity beginning on Sept. 6 following the Irish Government's latest COVID-19 response roadmap, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Thursday. Racecourses may also utilise 60% of their indoor capacity for hospitality purposes should attendees consume food and beverages indoors as long as they provide evidence of their Digital Covid Vaccine Cert (DCC). Attendance in both spheres will be increased to 100% as long as all covid restrictions are lifted on Oct. 22.

Regarding Irish Champions Weekend on Sept. 11 and 12, tickets for both cards go on sale on Sept. 3 for racegoers who have registered their interest ahead of time, with the remaining tickets going on general sale on Monday. Leopardstown and The Curragh will each be allowed to host a maximum of 4,000 attendees. Both days will be mixed outdoor events and access to indoor spaces is allowed with proof of a vaccine required for those consuming food and beverages indoors. The seven-day Listowel Harvest Festival from Sept. 19-Sept. 25 will host a maximum of 2,000 attendees per day and it is an outdoor-only event.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “It has been a very difficult 18 months for everybody in society, and racing can be proud of the way it has come through it. However, without racegoers, racing has been missing one of its essential ingredients.

“Like many industries, there is still much work to do, but there is now real progress and forward steps to normality. Welcoming back racegoers in measured but increasing numbers, is one of those steps and from Monday, Irish racecourses will be free to use 50% of their capacity to allow racegoers back on the track in real numbers.

“And as we know, this good news comes just in time for some of our most important race meetings: the Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, and Listowel's Harvest Festival which begins on Sunday, Sept. 19.

“I would like to thank all our customers for their patience and look forward to race meetings becoming just that again–a place where racegoers can meet each other in a safe environment and enjoy our great sport.”

Tim Husbands, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “It is great news, and I can't tell you how happy and relieved the whole Leopardstown team is to be finally selling tickets and getting ready to welcome people back racing. We've been working hard for quite some time on making the racecourse a safe and pleasurable place for people to enjoy comfortably in these unique times.”

Evan Arkwright, Chief Executive (Interim) Curragh Racecourse, added, “We were thrilled to hear the positive news earlier this week which will now allow us to welcome back a significant number of attendees for Longines Irish Champions Weekend.”

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Todd Pletcher Positive for COVID-19

Trainer Todd Pletcher has tested positive for COVID-19, and will continue to isolate until Thursday, he confirmed via text Sunday morning.

Pletcher, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, August 6, said that he sought out the test after experiencing allergy-like symptoms and after a co-worker tested positive.

“I got the results back this morning,” he said via text. “Starting Monday, I thought I was experiencing some allergies. Since I've been vaccinated, I wasn't concerned as I didn't have any traditional Covid symptoms. Late Friday, a co-worker tested positive so I decided to get a PCR test yesterday and started isolation. This morning, the results returned positive. I feel fine but will follow recommendations and stay put until Thursday.”

A PCR, or polymerase chain reaction test, is considered the most accurate test for diagnosing COVID-19.

Pletcher said that he did not attend the Monday and Tuesday evening sessions of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale, but did look at horses earlier in the day on the sales grounds.

Pletcher is currently third in the Saratoga trainer standings with 14 wins.

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Irish Tracks’ Chief “Frustrated” By Crowd Restrictions

Paddy Walsh, chief executive officer of the Association of Irish Racecourses, has said his “members are frustrated” as tracks continue to be restricted to very limited crowds.

While British racecourses are back at full capacity and other sports and sectors in Ireland are seeing restrictions eased, Irish racecourses remain limited to 500 patrons, with exceptions made to allow 1,000 at the Irish Derby meeting and the Galway Festival.

Horse Racing Ireland is seeking exceptions to allow larger crowds at next month's Harvest Festival at Listowel and Irish Champions Weekend, and has also submitted a request to Irish government to further ease restrictions at racecourses and increase attendance.

“Although we appreciate that navigating the reopening of society and easing of restrictions is an onerous task, our members are frustrated,” Walsh said. “They have done everything that has been asked of them, facilities have been turned inside out to ensure that protocols and guidelines have been meticulously adhered to at tracks nationwide. While the association fully respects public health, restrictions have eased considerably in other sectors and sports and we would like to see more progress in this regard for our members and the wider horse racing industry.”

A press release from AIR further added: “Close consultation will continue over the coming weeks with all parties committed to playing their role in supporting the industry's best efforts to encourage the easing of restrictions all the while protecting the continuity of racing and overall public health.”

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Irish Racing Growth Continues Despite Pandemic in HRI Report

Six-month statistics for horse racing and breeding in Ireland shows underlying growth in the industry despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report was released by Horse Racing Ireland on Thursday.

The metrics of horses in training (+24%), owners (+23.9%), new owner (+31%), runners (+23.8%), fixtures (+8.4%), and race numbers (+14.6) have all shown strong growth over the corresponding pre-pandemic figures for 2019. Attendance at Irish racecourses was the major area where figures suffered, as there has been no public attendance at any racemeeting in Ireland for the first half of 2021. Owners have been limited to just 200 per meeting and were only able to return to racecourses on June 7.

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “The increase in the number of active owners and newly registered owners in Ireland bodes well for the future as does the increase in the number of horses-in-training which is the lifeblood of the industry. This added investment by owners is reflected in the fixture list and the increase in the number of runners in both National Hunt and Flat races can only be of benefit to the industry, particularly in relation to employment.

“The major concern as we moved into 2021 was the absence of persons other than necessary workers from the racecourse and it was six months into the year before owners were able to return. The attendance figure that we publish today is primarily made up of the owners who went racing for a little over three weeks in June.

“Clearly this had a knock-on effect on betting figures, however it is encouraging to note the increase in Tote pool betting compared to the same period in 2019 which is a result of the strategic alliance between Tote Ireland and the UK Tote Group which has been in place since the start of this year.

“2020 saw the bloodstock market severely disrupted with sales frequently deferred or relocated out of Ireland due to travel restrictions. There were issues again earlier this year, but as the restrictions around international travel ease, we are hopeful that the second half of 2021 will bring a return to the growth which the sector has experienced in recent years. The turnover at bloodstock sales in the first half of 2021, particularly the Goffs Land Rover Sale and the Tattersalls Derby Sale was encouraging.

“The number of racemeetings held behind closed doors or with a limited attendance since racing resumed in June 2020 is now in excess of 500 and this has severely impacted racecourses and the various businesses which rely on them.

“The racecourses have proved resilient however and through Government support schemes, cost cutting measures, the HRI sponsorship incentive scheme and media rights revenues, they are managing their way through the crisis. That said, these measures can only be temporary and as the vaccination programme rolls out further, it is important that Irish racecourses are able to welcome back larger crowds at racemeetings.”

Kavanagh concluded, “Overall, the industry has shown resilience in the first six months of 2021 coping with the twin challenges of Brexit and Covid-19. There is a body of work to be done to restore attendances, prizemoney and race sponsorship levels, however the fundamentals of the industry remain strong and activity levels in owning, breeding and buying horses are increasing. The industry continues to deliver in terms of rural employment.

“This was backed up by research carried out for HRI by Red C in February which showed that two out of five people (40%) surveyed in a nationwide poll declared an interest in horse racing, a significant increase from 23% in 2020.

“Off the track, the first six months saw much focus on horse welfare and anti-doping issues and Horse Racing Ireland is working closely with industry stakeholders on a number of issues in both areas and will provide updates on an ongoing basis as this work proceeds.”

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