Irish racing could continue even if country reaches strictest lockdown level

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) appears to have delivered a major boost to the continuation of Irish racing after a letter from chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan suggested the sport could be exempt from a Level 5 shutdown.

In a further welcome filip it has emerged that on-course bookmakers are poised to return to the racecourse when Level 2 status is imposed once again.

After a 24-hour period of alarming uncertainty that saw NPHET recommend a nationwide shift from Level 2 to Level 5 restrictions – the most severe protocols available for combatting Covid-19 – the Irish government on Monday rejected the proposal and opted to step up Covid-19 measures to a less restrictive Level 3.

The move means owners can no longer attend Irish race meetings having only returned from a six-month hiatus on September 21, but the letter to the minister for health Stephen Donnelly from Dr Holohan made specific reference to racing being allowed to continue behind closed doors even if a Level 5 lockdown was activated.

Dr Tony Holohan: Ireland's chief medical officer

The official government roadmap for living with Covid-19 shows that racing can only continue at Levels 1 to 4 with the online plan still stating "no matches or events to take place" at Level 5.

However, the CMO's letter, which called for the Level 5 lockdown, said there would be an "exemption for professional/elite/senior inter-county/horseracing behind closed doors" at that stage.

HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: "I think that is good from the point of view of NPHET confirming that. It's all speculation at this point, but I think the key thing is that we're showing we can run something safely and with minimal risk."

Asked if the letter gave confidence that racing could continue behind closed doors even if the situation worsened to Level 5, he said: "We'll follow government advice all the way through.

"The participants in racedays have been great and we have to keep redoubling our efforts to continue racing no matter what might happen."

Brian Kavanagh: 'The key thing is that we're showing we can run something safely and with minimal risk'Credit: Martini

There has also been a positive development for on-course bookmakers, who have been sidelined since the last unrestricted fixture on March 8 at Naas, as a small number of layers will return to tracks once Ireland improves to Level 2.

The move was welcomed by leading on-course bookmaker and Irish National Professional Bookmakers Assocation (INPBA) chairman Ray Mulvaney, who is looking forward to catering for owners when the national situation progresses.

"The INPBA understands the position of the country and that HRI and AIR [Association of Irish Racecourses] have done all they can to keep the show on the road," said Mulvaney.

"We've worked with them in a positive manner and they've welcomed us back. Once we get back to Level 2 we'll hopefully be going racing."

He added: "Like all industries, it's going to be quiet for the start and we'll have three bookmakers going back at the earliest stage. Hopefully that can become six, 12 and 24 etc as the situation improves overall."

Ray Mulvaney: 'Once we get back to Level 2 we'll hopefully be going racing'Credit: Patrick McCann

The hammer blow for owners wishing to attend fixtures has seen ownership groups call for calm, asking the key stakeholder group to focus on the bigger picture in the midst of a mixed reaction to the news they'll be absent for at least three weeks.

"Certainly the overriding feeling with any of the owners who have contacted us is a respect and an understanding of what needs to be done to allow racing to go ahead," Richard Pugh, who is on the council of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO).

"The owner is not logistically essential to the horse running. However, the owner is inherently essential to the horse running."

He added: "The owner's contribution to racing is vast but, under the current guidelines, they are not part of the working environment at a race meeting.

"Racing was allowed back under the strictest of guidelines, but they have served us well as we were able to continue through the Kildare lockdown and we are still racing in Level 3 and we will be in Levels 4 and 5."

Owner Noel Hayes, a former commercial director of Tote Ireland and sportsbook director at BetBright, is disappointed to see owners classified as spectators considering their significant contribution to the industry.

"I know HRI are working their hearts out, but I had to take a double take on Tuesday morning when I got an email and HRI categorised owners as spectators," he said.

"I know racing is only meant to have those who are necessary at a race meeting and this boils down to how owners are viewed as a stakeholder group within the industry. It seems to me that owners are on the periphery."

HRI owner relations manager Aidan McGarry added: "As with every other organisation, we have to follow the guidelines set out by the government and hopefully we'll have positive news when everything is reviewed at the end of the month."

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