HRI not ruling out backing centralised Curragh training structure

Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh has not ruled out the possibility of the Irish governing body supporting the introduction of a centralised training structure on the Curragh, with proposals from John Oxx and Michael Grassick, which were recently published in the Racing Post, set to be discussed.

Grassick, who serves as chief executive of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, implored the Curragh on Thursday to provide a lifeline for aspiring handlers by dividing up bigger yards that lie dormant on the world-famous training grounds, a move he believes could make the profession more accessible.

The proposal came after comments in last Sunday's Racing Post from the recently retired Oxx, who believes the majority of trainers are struggling to make a living.

Curragh chief executive Pat Keogh said on Thursday he would love to see some dormant yards divided among smaller trainers, but believed the racecourse's role in such a process would not extend beyond being a facilitator.

The Curragh: one of the most famous training establishments in the worldCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

However, Kavanagh, while acknowledging that such a project would not be straightforward to implement, said the relevant parties would discuss the scope for HRI to get involved in a Curragh-based initiative.

He said: "From the [Racing Post] article earlier this week, it seemed to talk about renovation, purchasing or reallocating existing yards.

"That's not straightforward with the property-ownership rights involved, but we'll sit down and see what's possible from the point of view of facilitating trainers around the Curragh as much as possible. It needs further work but it's not something we're ruling out.

"In our plan for the all-weather track at Tipperary, we have the concept of starter-trainers' yards and that's similar to what I think was being mooted on the Curragh."

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is expected to change existing licensing protocols in the coming months, according to Grassick, so two people would be able to share a licence, as is the case in many jurisdictions.

Kavanagh said: "There's nothing to stop a trainer subdividing their yard once that happens. To go further and effectively get the Curragh racecourse, or Horse Racing Ireland, or some authority to purchase property and build yards for leasing is a different issue to be reviewed against a background where we have a lot of empty yards all around the Curragh already.

Brian Kavanagh: 'It needs to be studied in more detail, but it's definitely not something we'd rule out'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"That needs to be studied in more detail, but it's definitely not something we'd rule out."

Kavanagh said the progress of the proposed all-weather track at Tipperary, which has a planned opening date in 2022, would be raised when HRI held its December board meeting on December 15.

He said: "Our strategic plan was published pre-Covid and the pandemic has occupied everyone's attention since then. We're working through the various issues and when we have our board meeting we'll look at our budget for next year and beyond, and will be able to give some decisions on that.

"The plan in some ways is more valid now in a Covid environment than it ever was."

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