Racing behind closed doors
RACING is returning to Cleveragh on Thursday with a much-changed look as it’s the first time the meeting takes place behind closed doors due to Covid-19.
The evening meeting begins at 4pm and is a 6-card feature, without crowds and owners.
Strict protocols are in place to ensure social distancing is maintained while there will also be temperature checks before the racing begins.
A lot of work has been ongoing at the racecourse in preparation for Thursday, which is the first of six meetings taking place in Sligo this year.
There are 3 scheduled for August with one each in September and October.
Sligo had been preparing for the first meeting initially in May but the lockdown meant racing was postponed.
Kathryn Foley, Sligo Races Manager said there are strict protocols in place to ensure the safety of everyone on the day.
She told The Sligo Champion: “It is all going to be behind closed doors.
“It is a lot more stringent that back in May.
“There will only be trainers, jockeys and grooms in attendance, along with the HRI and HRB.
“There is quite an amount of preparation involved.
“I suppose the biggest thing is people have to register with the HRB health safety website beforehand and answer 14 Covid-19 related questions one day before racing. They will be issued with a code to their phone.
“They will then have to log back in again the day after the racing takes place and answer three questions.”
Ms Foley explained that on the day itself, gardaí will have Cemetery Road closed and jockeys and trainers will be going up Cleveragh Road and park outside the racecourse.
“With social distancing of 2metres apart, they will then go in single file through the pedestrian gates into the Tote bar where they will have the code on their phones scanned and their temperatures will be taken via camera.
“If they pass, they will be given a wrist band.
“If people are pulling horses, they will then go to the side gate, provided they have their wrist band and only if they have the wrist band will they get in.
“Jockeys and trainers will then drive into the enclosure.”
A lot of changes have been done throughout the racecourse ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
“We have perspex screens up, including in the main reception area as this could go on for a long time, maybe even next year,” Ms Foley pointed out.
“It’s a six race card on Thursday, with the first race divided and we should have a big entry.”
Jockeys also have their own chairs with their names on them, with no one allowed to sit on someone else’s chair.
“All of the jockeys will have to get their own chairs and so forth,”she explained.
In the parade ring too, there is strict protocols in place with social distancing and regular hand sanitising being the norm.
“In the parade ring too everyone will have to keep 2 metres apart.
“The jockeys and whoever is assisting them mount the horse will be provided with hand sanitiser to use before and after the jockey mounts.”
Protocols are also in place in the stable yard.
“Down in the stable yard, there has to be hand sanitisers for the grooms to use both before and after they hose the horses.
“There are about 30 hand sanitising units around the place.
“It is all about getting everything right for racing,” Ms Foley explained.
“I think the Covid-19 restrictions are even more restrictive that other places, we had to jump through hoops to get it back.
“There really is an awful lot of preparation, but once we have the first race over it will a lot easier. The next stage is expected to see 2 owners allowed from July 20th, as of now no owners are allowed into the racecourse but gradually there will be a little bit of lifting of these restrictions.
“However, the more people that are in means of course the more difficult it is to ensure social distancing.
“The racing will be streamed on tv channels on the day too for people to follow.
“We have a further 3 meetings in August and one in September and October,” she added.