Despite most other sports and businesses shutting down due to coronavirus, Irish racing has continued to go ahead behind closed doors through the course of last week and early this week.

Strict guidelines on social distancing have been put in place by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), with the governing body also severely limiting who can attend race meetings.

The continuance of Irish racing has attracted criticism in and outside the industry, but writing in The Irish Field on Saturday last, HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: “Racecourses, by nature, offer opportunities for social distancing few other workplaces can. They are big open-air sites with only key personnel present, but it is absolutely essential that we maintain the diligence shown thus far. Only if we adhere to the Government’s social distancing protocols, will we be able to continue racing.

“The Government has tried to strike a balance between protecting employment and the need for disease containment, with the priority always the latter. We review our procedures daily and the situation will be reviewed by the HRI board weekly.”

British Shutdown

In Britain, all racing has been cancelled until 29 April, which has also led to criticism of HRI’s decision to continue racing, but it is worth noting that unlike British racing which uses National Health Service ambulances, Irish racing uses the Order of Malta ambulance corps, a voluntary organisation.

On this, Kavanagh added: “We are reassured that the medical services which we require are not needed elsewhere at this time but we are sensitive to the possibility of that changing. We will respond to the Government’s Chief Medical Officer immediately should the situation change.”

Job losses

There are 28,000 jobs connected to the Irish racing industry, some of which have been lost or have come under severe pressure already. Stable staff will likely be among the worst affected. On-course bookmakers are not permitted to attend Irish race meetings so they have been hit hard, while Paddy Power and BoyleSports announced their shops would close early last week.

The breeding/bloodstock industry is also suffering but in the event of restricted movement plans coming into place, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association is lobbying the Government to recognise breeding as an essential service, and one that can be done under social distancing guidelines.

Thurles on TV

Meanwhile, Thurles was the centre of attention for the racing and maybe sporting world last Saturday as action at the track was broadcast live on ITV4 and Virgin Media. The Tipperary course is a family-run business and it was fitting that the feature event was named after Pierce Molony, the former owner and manager.

The racecourse is now run by Pierce’s wife Riona and four daughters Patricia, Helen, Annemarie and Kate. The latter is the racecourse manager and said prior to racing: “It’s hugely exciting to have Thurles live on ITV. Dad would have got some kick out of it, he’d have have been in his element!”

The Grade 3 Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase went to the Emmet Mullins-trained Zero Ten. Owned by the Mee family, who have had success at the Galway Races, it would be no surprise to see Zero Ten become one of the main contenders for the Galway Plate later in the summer, given the seven-year-old is a three-time winner around Ballybrit.