Greyhounds return behind closed doors
GREYHOUND racing behind closed doors is set to resume on Monday next, 15 June, with Dundalk expected to stage cards on the following Friday and Saturday, its usual days.
After the sport failed to get the go-ahead to return at the same time as horse racing (Naas was the first meeting back yesterday), it was feared the dogs would have to wait until 29 June.
However, it’s now all systems go for the longtails. Indeed, the initial batch of official trials at Dundalk was quickly booked out.
The first of three successive days trialling, under strict protocols, began yesterday.
Dundalk last hosted dog racing behind closed doors on Saturday, 21 March.
The Irish Greyhound Board has released a revised fixture list of feature events, and as had been flagged there is no Dundalk International 550 on 12 July.
Formerly known as the Irish Sprint Cup, the IGB National Sprint, one of the Classics, will start on 17 July with the final scheduled for 15 August and part of a dual raceday at Dundalk Stadium.
Meanwhile, horse racing remains on course to continue behind closed doors at the Dowdallshill venue on 12 July, the first meeting on a new Polytrack surface.
The card will now include the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes over 10 ½ furlongs as the final leg of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Dundalk is also slated to race on 15 August before a new season begins on 18 September.
Five meetings lost during the lockdown have been rescheduled for November, which means eleven fixtures on the all-weather during that month, including three weeks of Monday-Wednesday-Friday action.