HORSE Racing Ireland director Jonathan Mullin has praised racecourse staff for the huge efforts made in recent weeks to provide safe ground.

According to Met Eireann, July 2026 was the driest July on record at all 25 principal weather stations and the driest month of all time at four stations.

“You could not emphasise enough the amount of work that the groundstaff at our tracks have put in this summer to produce racing ground, in conjunction with the IHRB clerks of the courses,” Mullin said.

“It has meant that the only changes required this summer, despite the weather, was converting Clonmel to an all-hurdle card on June 5th. It required knock-on changes at Listowel and Punchestown that week, as well as Roscommon taking an extra race, and those three tracks were very cooperative in assisting with the change. Other tracks did raise possible concerns during the summer but were able to manage.

“Keeping a mix of a hurdle and chase card isn’t just a summer and warm weather challenge, because it isn’t unusual that during the winter months tracks struggle to prepare both tracks and some adjustments to the race programme are needed.”

Grass gallops closed

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of the Curragh Racecourse and Training Grounds, said: “It’s been an unprecedented dry spell – we have had just 7mm of rain since June 15th and nobody here can remember such a prolonged drought. Given that we had a very wet spring, it is a real contrast.

“The training ground staff have worked hard to provide facilities for our trainers, and the all-weather surfaces are watered early every morning. The Old Vic and the schooling ground sand gallop have been particularly busy and have helped keep the show on the road.

“We have noticed an increase in the number of visiting trainers travelling to use them; however we have not been able to use our grass gallops since late June which is the longest anyone here can remember.

“We are fortunate in that there is a large aquifer under the Curragh and with our reservoir, well and ring main system, we can manage well. During the redevelopment project - and through the generous support of Eva Maria Bucher Haefner - a new watering and ring main system was installed on the racecourse and that has served us well.

“I never thought I would say this, but a good drop of rain would be really welcome!”

Western tracks

Only the bigger Irish tracks have an in-built watering system. Roscommon, which stages a flat card on Tuesday, still uses a tractor and tanker system, as does Sligo which stages a jumps card on Wednesday.

Roscommon manager Michael Finneran said: “The reality is that we can’t afford to install a watering system. Costs have gone up and profits have gone down. I have two lads here driving the tractor and trailer for watering and I am here all the time manging it. We start at 6am and the hours are long.

“This year [the lack of rain] is as bad as I have ever seen it. This week we’ve had temperatures of between 25-27C.

“There is up to 30ml of rain forecast over the weekend but it’s hit and miss and we are missing it so far. Unless you are certain it’s going to rain you can’t afford to stop watering for a single day or you’d be in trouble.

“If the rain comes at the wrong time we could end up being on the soft side – you’re trying to balance it. Nobody has given out to me about our ground so far this year. We’re all in this game to do our best and the ground comes first.”

Sligo manager Kathryn Foley added: “We’re having to put out more water than in previous years.

“There is plenty of rain forecast between now and Wednesday but it’s sporadic and there is not much landing here so far. We’re aiming to provide good ground, that’s the priority.”