Thurles Racecourse, Ireland’s only privately owned racecourse, has closed with immediate effect. Riona Molony officially announced the family’s decision on Friday morning to retire from racing at the Tipperary track.

A venue steeped in history and tradition; Thurles Racecourse has long been a cornerstone of National Hunt racing in Ireland. The first ever recorded race-meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s. Riona’s late husband Pierce took over from his father Dr Paddy Molony in 1974, and together with their family they have worked hard at the business for the last 50 years.