SLIGO Racecourse says it will survive the severe financial hit it has suffered through the loss of its first three meetings this year.

The racing surface has yet to recover from extensive drainage work carried out on the entire track in February. However there is optimism that Sligo’s July fixture and possibly its two-day early August meeting can be salvaged.

Few details were made public when Sligo’s April and May meetings were cancelled, but yesterday track manager Kathryn Foley told The Irish Field: “We would like to apologise that racing has not yet taken place this year. We realise this has been very disappointing for our members.”

Sligo has lost well in excess of €100,000 in media rights alone so far but the situation is not disastrous, Foley said. “We are still in a very strong financial position. It is a blow but we will definitely be able to sustain it in the long run and we’re very viable as a racetrack.”

The Sligo Races committee will be asked to meet Horse Racing Ireland senior management later this month to discuss the future of the troubled track.

Last year, Sligo Racecourse embarked on the first phase of a €1.9 redevelopment but the track management have been advised by HRI not to carry out any further work until such time as the racecourse’s finances and racing prospects have been reviewed.

A HRI spokesperson said: “We’ve asked Sligo to desist from carrying out any further capital development projects until revised cash flow projections are taken into account. We plan to meet with Sligo management in the next few weeks when hopefully we will know more about their ability to race for the rest of the year.”

Kieran O’Connor stepped down as Sligo Races chairman in March. He said: “It’s a real pity to lose three meetings this season but it was still work that needed to be done and hopefully Sligo will see the benefit in the long term.”

Having lost one fixture on each of the previous two seasons, Sligo was in need of drainage work and the job was originally scheduled for last December. Poor weather meant that the work was cancelled and apparently the racing authorities were unaware that the racecourse rescheduled the project in February.

When a Turf Club official visited the course in late February it was noted that remedial work would be needed if the track was to stage its first meeting on April 30th. The course was inspected again in early March and it became apparent the April meeting would have to be cancelled.

A Turf Club delegation visited the track again in May and reported that the track was heading in the right direction. It was agreed then with track management that if the June meeting was cancelled it would enable the course to carry out one final piece of remedial work.

Sligo has a reputation for being one of Ireland’s more progressive provincial tracks. The track welcomed the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to its May meeting two years ago. Earlier this month the track had less welcome visitors when thieves attempted to steal lead from the racecourse gate lodge.

*Sligo’s June 20th flat meeting has been moved to Naas with the same programme. unchanged.