IRISH BODY BLOW
IRISH RACING is seeking a reduced sentence after the Dublin government’s June 29 coronavirus comeback date delivered “a big blow for everybody” in the sport.
Hopes of a return on May 18 were dashed on Thursday evening when it was announced racing in Ireland, in common with other sports to take place behind closed doors, could not recommence until phase three of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s five-phase roadmap six weeks later.
The blackout covers three Classics – the Irish 2,000 Guineas (May 23), Irish 1,000 Guineas (May 24) and Irish Derby (June 27) – and Horse Racing Ireland bosses will now plead for a change of heart.
“The sooner we get racing, the better – that’s the obvious answer,” Irish Racehorse Trainers Association chief executive Michael Grassick said yesterday.
“I think a lot of people were hanging in there, hoping that we were going to get an early start, so June 29 has been a big blow for everybody.”
Next week, HRI top brass, led by chief executive Brian Kavanagh, will seek a resumption on June 8 – coinciding with phase two of the roadmap – to mitigate huge losses across the whole industry.
“Everybody is searching for answers,” added Grassick. “You would worry about the Classics – you only get one shot at that.
“The Guineas, the Oaks, the Derby, the Leger – where do they fit in?
“But it affects everybody in the pyramid, There is a time, particularly during the summer circuit, when people can go racing – the Galways, Killarneys and that sort of thing.”