THE requirement to provide table service for people seeking alcoholic drinks has forced Leopardstown to reduce its capacity to just 6,000 racegoers on each day of the Christmas Festival.

Leopardstown would normally expect to welcome in the region of 57,000 people through the gates over the four-day meeting.

After racing behind closed doors last year, Leopardstown expected to accommodate 10,000 people each day of this year’s meeting but those plans had to be redrawn following the reimposition last weekend of extra measures by the Government aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19.

The guidelines state that outdoor events can have full attendance but, as Leopardstown wants to use its indoor bars and restaurants, and have them accessible to all racegoers, it was decided to drastically reduce numbers in order to comply with the restrictions.

Leopardstown CEO Tim Husbands said: “By law those who want to buy an alcoholic beverage have to sit at a table and be served there. It’s not practical to provide that facility for 10,000, so we had to reduce capacity. We are erecting marquees and lots of winter furniture to make it as enjoyable as possible for patrons. We have a responsibility to ensure people feel safe and enjoy their day.”

Husbands said that the new restrictions did not have a major impact on booked hospitality, such as corporate dining. “All we had to do was ensure there were no more than six people on each table and we managed to do that without losing more than one or two bookings, “ he said.

The Christmas Festival will be all-ticket and is close to selling out. Husbands reported: “We are pretty much sold out for the 27th and 28th already. There are still some tickets available for the 26th and 29th, though I expect they will go soon.”

Meanwhile, Limerick Racecourse has reversed its decision to only admit racegoers with proof of vaccination or recovery. Interim manager Paddy Dunican explained: “From a logistical point of view, it is more efficient to let racegoers enter the enclosure and then give them the option of producing their Covid certs in order to gain access to indoor areas.”

Limerick expects to be able to accommodate walk-up racegoers each day but advance booking is strongly encouraged. “If you don’t buy a ticket online you will be asked for contact tracing details on entry and this could take time,” Dunican said. “By purchasing in advance, you have all that information entered online and you can just swipe your ticket and go inside.”

Dunican added: “We are investing a significant amount of money into providing additional outdoor facilities including marquees, outdoor catering units and bars, et cetera, for all of our customers to have a safe and enjoyable experience.

“We are very happy with the huge support from local businesses with all of our races sponsored to date.

“With the 50% reduction indoors most of our hospitality packages are now sold out.”

Watering started

STORM Barra did not stop Leopardstown from starting a watering programme this week. Tim Husbands reported: “We began watering on Monday and then we had 33mm of rain over the next two days. That left the chase track yielding, good to yielding in places, and the hurdles course is yielding, yielding to soft in places. There is an unsettled forecast with the possibility of approximately 20mm of rain in the next five days.”