OFFICIALS at the Curragh are eager to stage racing on Good Friday next year, with the track’s chief executive Brian Kavanagh believing Irish racing is “missing out” by not being active on a day when many workplaces and schools are closed.

British racing introduced meetings on Good Friday in 2014, and other Irish sporting events were fixed for the same day this year, including the Heineken Champions Cup rugby quarter-final between Leinster and Leicester Tigers at the Aviva Stadium and a slate of League of Ireland Premier Division soccer fixtures.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Kavanagh said: “Good Friday is a day when people are available to go racing, and there is already plenty of racing on in the UK. Ireland is missing out to some extent on that. The bars and restaurants are open as normal, and other sport is taking place.

“We would look to make it a Good Friday meeting where there are initiatives running around it. There is a lot of scope to do things like that around the Curragh, with the Irish National Stud nearby and obviously lots of trainers. There could be plenty for people to see if they opted to come down and spend the day in Kildare.

“I don’t know if it would be an already established card switching slots to Good Friday or drawing up something different, but we want to uphold a level of quality that we put in our cards, with something like a Group race.”

The Curragh has previously expressed an interest in hosting a Good Friday fixture. HRI director of racing Jason Morris explained any submissions for such a meeting must show “a significant industry benefit”.

Morris said: “The HRI fixtures committee’s position last year was that a compelling financial and promotional case would need to be presented by any racecourse seeking a fixture on Good Friday with a significant industry benefit being identified.

“No such applications were received last year and any racecourse proposals for next year will be considered as part of the 2024 fixture list compilation process.”

As it stands, betting shops in Ireland are not permitted to open on Good Friday under existing legislation but Irish Bookmakers Association chairperson Sharon Byrne says the organisation is keen for this to be reviewed.

“Archaic legislation prevents betting shops from opening on Good Friday, and needs to be changed, similar to when the ban on pubs opening on Good Friday was lifted back in 2018,” said Byrne.

“Hopefully this is one of the many things that the new Regulatory Authority will address when it gets going. We understand that Minister Browne and his department are still hopeful to complete their work on the Gambling Regulation Bill this year.

“We look forward to having fair, proportionate and effective legislation in place, as it will enhance consumer protection and create a level playing field for licensed operators.”