RACEHORSE owners will be back at the track from Monday week, June 7th, and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (June 26th) is set to be the first fixture at which a limited number of racegoers - likely to be 1,000 - will be admitted as part of a wider set of Government-approved trials at sporting venues.
On Friday evening, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that, from June 7th 200 people will be allowed events at outdoor venues which have a capacity of 5,000. This will allow for the return of racehorse owners. This number will rise to 500 from July 5th and rise again from August 5th.
In recent weeks HRI has put forward detailed proposals to Government on how racehorses owners, sponsors and a limited number of racegoers could safely be accommodated on racedays. It was confirmed last night that racing will be part of the Government’s trials for the return of crowds to sporting events. The list of trial events states an intention to have 1,000 people at one day on Irish Derby weekend, and The Irish Field has been informed that Derby day, Saturday, June 26th, is the preferred option.
Further race meetings will be included in a list of July sporting trials, which has yet to be drawn up, and it will be widely expected that the Galway Races (July 26th-August 1st) will be included.
Speaking to The Irish FieldHRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: "We expect to be in a position to welcome owners back on track with effect from June 7th. This would be a brilliant outcome as owners have been incredibly patient during the last 12 months, keeping the industry going and continuing to support racing despite not being able to attend in person.”
He added: “Separately, we are hopeful of some positive news on the return of spectators to the racetrack in a graduated manner.
“We have submitted that race meetings be included in any trial of the return of spectators to sports events and have prepared and submitted draft protocols as to how this would happen. It would be great just to have racing included in the list of trials first and to build from there.”
Currently, only personnel deemed essential to the running of a race meeting are allowed attend. They must complete an online health form, take a temperature test at the turnstile, and wear a face covering at all times during racing. Kavanagh expects owners will have to follow these protocols, and possibly more.
“I expect that there will be extra procedures, although that will depend on the Government’s requirements and on crowd numbers,” Kavanagh said. “We have safely run in excess of 410 race meetings behind closed doors since last June with circa 200/250 people on site at each and no Covid incident has arisen from these meetings.”
He anticipates that sporting venues will be allowed admit a percentage of current capacity or a specified figure, “whichever is the lower.” No indoor facilities will be available to owners or racegoers. “Initially, everything will be outdoors. But as indoor dining returns more generally then hopefully those type of options will become available.”
Asked if the public might have the opportunity to attend the Galway Festival at the end of July, Kavanagh said: “I think the chances are good, but with limited numbers. It all depends on the Government decisions on trials and the timing of a more general reopening, both of which will obviously depend on the general situation with the pandemic which thankfully seems to be moving in a more positive direction.”
All racecourses have been asked to draw up plans which would cater for different scenarios, such as how many people they could accommodate indoors or outdoors, with one-metre or two-metre social distancing.
Kavanagh said: “I think everybody is looking forward to getting racegoers back on track in a safe and organised manner. A lot of work is going on between [HRI director of racing] Jason Morris, Sharleen O’Reilly [HRI operations manager], Jennifer Pugh [IHRB senior medical officer] and the racecourses to ensure that they are ready for the return of racegoers in bigger numbers. Indications in the media this week were that this could be in August.”
Peter Burke, the Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath and Minister for State, has been a vocal supporter of the racing industry in Government circles throughout the pandemic.
He told The Irish Field: “As our economy continues to reopen, it is crucial we build up capacity at racecourses to build in viability and to acknowledg the huge impact and spin-off racing has to our local enconomy, in terms of jobs and inventment. I have worked to ensure racing is prioritised by Government over the months ahead.”
In Britain, racehorse owners have been back on track since March 29th and spectators – in limited numbers – since May 17th. Earlier this week Royal Ascot announced it would be admitting 12,000 people on each of its five days next month and tickets went on sale yesterday.
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