MALLOW RACING RETURNS
HORSE RACING IRELAND PENCIL IN THREE MEETINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT CORK RACECOURSE MALLOW IN JULY
BY any measure it has been a tough year so far for the Cork Racecourse, with COVID-19 closing down the entire horse racing industry and placing immense pressure on the finances of venues such as the one in Mallow.
However, last week there was finally a glimpse of light at the end of what had been a very dark tunnel for the industry after it was confirmed that racing was to recommence next month, albeit behind closed doors, at a number of venues across the country.
Although Cork was not among them, hopes that racing would return to Mallow the following month have been realised after Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) confirmed three meetings will take place at Cork Racecourse in July.
HRI have included flat meetings on Sunday, July 5 and the following Sunday (July 12) with an evening national hunt meetings pencilled in at Cork Racecourse on Friday, July 24.
Speaking to The Corkman this week, Cork Racecourse manager Andrew Hogan said he cannot wait for July to come around.
He said that the venue had been forced to drop nine meetings from its annual schedule this year - losing more than 50% of its annual revenue stretching to hundreds of thousands of euros.
These included the lucrative Racing Home for Easter Festival and the hugely popular Student Day on March 25.
“The Racing Home Festival is the pinnacle of our year and to lose that and all of the other meetings was a huge financial blow. Thankfully, it was never a case of us closing down and we have been able to keep on all our full-time staff, but there is no doubt but that it will take a long time for us to recover,” said Mr Hogan.
“That said, we feel very lucky to be able to get back on track, even if it is behind closed doors, particularly when you see the uncertainty surrounding other sectors of the hospitality sector. Not just for us, but for horse racing as a whole, all of the jockeys trainers, owners and everyone connected with the sector who rely on prize money for their livelihoods. I have no doubt it will also come as a great relief to punters and fans,” he added.
All of the Cork meetings will be televised, with Bartlemy-based company IRIS securing the contract to supply coverage to Sports Information Services (SIS), Racing TV and terrestrial broadcasters.
Mr Hogan said that there was one silver lining to the enforced closure of the racecourse, it being that the track has never been in better condition.
“It has been given a good rest and we are all ready for the off on July 5. The weather is good, the course is in great condition and we will be working to fit in as many race days as we can for the remainder of the year,” he said.
Mr Hogan said that while Cork Racecourse has handed over a section of the venue to be used by the HSE as a COVID-19 test centre for the foreseeable future, it will not present a problem on race days.
“The first two meetings are on Sundays when no testing is scheduled to take place. In any case, together with the HSE we will be putting distancing protocols in place to ensure there will be no crossover, details of which will be ironed well in advance of July,” said Mr Hogan.