Egan hopeful Sligo can get back on track despite drainage issues

Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan remains hopeful that Sligo will stage the remainder of its fixtures this year despite the fact that remedial work on the track has taken a lot longer to bed in than anticipated.

The popular western venue, which welcomed Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in May 2015, has lost its first two meetings of the year due to drainage issues, but Egan hopes it will be a short-term loss for a long-term gain.

"It is unfortunate for everyone involved at Sligo but the remedial work that was carried out on the track has not healed yet and that is why they have not raced yet," Egan explained.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall with racecourse chairman Kieran O'Connor at Sligo in 2015Credit: Caroline Norris

"The remedial work was carried out on a substantial part of the track and it has not healed as quickly as was hoped. The situation is being monitored and I hope they will race this year. It is unfortunate but hopefully it is just a short-term loss for a long-term gain."

Sligo's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20 and Egan said the track will be given every chance to fulfil that fixture.

He added: "The track will continue to be monitored and hopefully it will have healed by then. At this stage, it is very hard to say whether that meeting will go ahead or not and a call will be made in the next few weeks."

Sligo has six more fixtures in 2017 – June 20, July 16, August 9, August 10, August 22, September 27.