ON Wednesday I caught up with Eddie Scally, the manager of Gowran Park. I wondered what life was like at one of Ireland’s 26 racecourses in this time of uncertainty. Like most businesses, Gowran is suffering during the coronavirus pandemic, as not only is there no racing but the golf course is also closed.

“We should be racing today [Wednesday] here at Gowran Park on what would have been our IT Carlow Students Day, and what glorious weather the students would have had. Since the announcement was made to close down all non-essential business we have found it very tough. For us we lost both our day-to-day golf business and also our racing business. In normal circumstances 60 plus staff would be working here today, instead we have four,” he told me.