A SIGN OF THE TIMES
THE big sign outside was lit up as usual. Racing this weekend ….. CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
On the same day 68,859 spectators packed Cheltenham to see Al Boum Photo retain his Gold Cup crown, the official attendance at Dundalk Stadium was ‘zero’.
The first meeting in Ireland to go behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak had no paying customers, no bookmakers, no bars and no catering.
Following Thursday’s major announcement by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Horse Racing Ireland declared that all racing will take place behind closed doors until 29 March.
The restrictions at the Dowdallshill venue included one groom per runner and one owner per runner, while only trainers of horses in action were admitted.
Apart from all that, the eightrace card went on as normal!
Pictures were beamed into betting shops. An industry SP was provided to settle bets, while punters could also have a flutter on the Tote.
Former jockey Fran Berry was there in his new role as a presenter for Racing TV.
The number of non-runners was negligible and for those watching from afar there appeared to be no change at all.
Regulars at the track will tell you the crowds mostly tend to stay indoors, concentrated in the restaurants and around the bars.
The management did have a big day planned to coincide with the Gold Cup – free admission before the Cheltenham feature at 3.30pm, a free pint of Bulmers and a burger thrown in but……….
Anyway, the first race got away at 5.15, a 5-furlong sprint won by Danz Gift.
Of course, Dundalk Stadium is a unique venue and twenty minutes after Mythologic took the finale, the first of eight dog races was decided.
When Mr Varadkar advised that all schools and colleges will be closing and the cancellation of indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people, the Irish Greyhound Board stated: ‘From 6pm today (Thursday, 12 March), a ‘racing behind closed doors’ policy will be put into effect.
‘No public admissions other than one person, one dog will be permitted.’
It takes a lot more staff and officials to run a horse meeting, so there was an even eerier feel about the place when the longtails got their turn.
Again, there were no bookmakers shouting the odds, while the bars and food outlets remained closed.
There was a solitary Tote operator taking bets for the action at Dundalk and at Shelbourne Park, from where the pictures were available as usual.
He got very little business. Most of the money in small pools came from internet bets via the IGB’s ‘Barking Buzz’ even though the Dundalk action was not streamed live.
Trainers were happy to be racing at all. Indeed, the only complaint was not being able to get a cup of tea. One savvy handler did bring a flask!
With public address announcer and race commentator, Colm Corrigan not on duty, the opening contest crept up quickly as runners went straight to traps for ‘The Welcome To Dundalk 400’.
The only sound as Scullys Allstar won for his Craigavon connections was the rattle of the hare and the greyhounds pounding the sand, before judge Gerry Kerley called the result.
Just a couple of people came out to watch the action live, the rest preferring to stay indoors to view on the monitors.
As each race was run off, the ‘crowd’ got ever smaller as handlers collected their dogs and headed for home.
By the time of the ‘Last Chance To Bet A Winner 525’ no one remained in the downstairs bar area of the stand save for the young man at the Tote counter and the busiest person all night, the cleaner.
This concluding event did provide the sole Co. Louth winner on the card, Amazing Borna obliging for Drogheda’s Kieran Hicks.
On Saturday the dogs had the venue to themselves for an eleven-race programme.
A similar scenario played out though the races were run off quickly. The last, scheduled for 10.20, was done and dusted by 9.45.
Dundalk took their responsibilities seriously over the weekend despite no members of the general public being present.
Diligent cleaning of door handles and other hard surfaces was carried out regularly.
‘They were unusual circumstances,’ said Jim Martin reflecting on the weekend’s horse and greyhound racing.
‘Very strict guidelines were given to us and everybody observed them. Only those entitled to be there were present,’ added the Dundalk Stadium chief executive.
He said the venue was thoroughly disinfected, people were spread out, and the stadium operated within the guidelines.
While obviously not knowing what is coming further down the line, the CEO believed these guidelines suggest racing will continue.
‘It kept the show on the road for both industries. Horse and greyhound racing are vital industries,’ remarked Mr Martin.