THE incoming management team at Down Royal Racecourse will be at Fairyhouse this weekend where they hope to introduce themselves to many of the industry’s leading players.

Earlier this week the Merrion Property Group, which takes control of the track in January, revealed its first major appointment in the shape of Emma Meehan, who will be chief executive.

Meehan has over 10 years of experience in management and marketing at Dundalk Stadium. She will be hoping to receive the cooperation of the outgoing Down Royal management team during the changeover period but the indications are that relations between Merrion and the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders [DRCHB] remains frosty.

Shortly after this week’s press release concerning Meehan’s appointment the DRCHB objected to the use of the Down Royal name by Merrion. The DRCHB claims it owns the racecourse name and it reserves the right to use it at a new location should a suitable venue be found.

Horse Racing Ireland has told The Irish Field that, in its view, the Down Royal name stays with the venue when it transfers to the new management company.

New directors at the racecourse have also been confirmed, including Michael O’Rourke, formerly director of marketing and communications in Horse Racing Ireland, Mark Kershaw, formerly racecourse manager at Ayr, Musselburgh and Newbury, and Gareth Graham, a member of Northern Ireland’s best known bookmaking family.

Joe Collins, former senior clerk of the course for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and with over 40 years of experience and manager of several racecourses, will be an advisor to the new team.

Despite uncertainty over funding from the usual Northern Ireland sources, the new Down Royal team say they will fulfill all their 2019 fixtures and there will be no drop in prize money.

Meehan said: “To anyone involved in racing in Northern Ireland, and indeed throughout the island of Ireland, Down Royal is regarded as the pacesetter for modern racecourses and it is a leading venue here and across the UK.

“I recognise that taking on the management of the venue is a challenge as well as an exciting opportunity. Down Royal is an integral part of the overall horse racing and breeding industry and I look forward to being part of its continuing success and development.

“Our aim from day one is to ensure that racegoers continue to enjoy Down Royal and in fact we will enhance the overall Down Royal experience. This is the beginning of an exciting new era for horse racing in Northern Ireland and throughout the island.”

Michael Roden of Merrion Property Group added: “We are delighted that Emma is joining us to head up our team as Down Royal begins a new chapter.

“The successful growth that she led at Dundalk and the huge experience that she has in all elements of managing a racecourse gives us every confidence in the future of Down Royal.

“We have spent the last year preparing for the onset of a new era at the venue and we will be ready to mark the opening of the 2019 racing season once transitionary plans complete.”

Based in Dublin, Merrion Property acquired the racecourse lands in 2005 but allowed the tenants, the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders, to continue racing there under a 15-year lease. That lease expires at the end of this year.