Kavanagh: racing's interests not affected by sacking of agriculture minister

The sacking of recently appointed Minister for Agriculture and racing enthusiast Barry Cowen is no cause for alarm according to HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh, who says that Irish racing has never been personality-driven but rather interest-driven.

The news that Cowen was relieved of his duties on Tuesday night by new Taoiseach Micheal Martin, due to controversy over a drink-driving offence that occurred four years ago, was not believed to be good for racing as the Offaly native is a keen admirer of the sport.

But Kavanagh is not concerned by the shock development and insists Irish racing, which is allocated €67.2 million in government funding for 2020, has a strong story to tell regardless of who is in the agriculture ministry.

Kavanagh said: "Our approach with government has never been personality-driven, it is always interest-driven. That's the approach we adopt.

"Our position is always based on the merits of a case rather than the personalities involved. I've worked with many different governments and many different Ministers for Agriculture and our job is always to make merits for a specific case.

"We need to show each government the economic return racing provides, especially in rural Ireland. We have a very strong story to tell."

Kavanagh also confirmed the three Irish-based jockeys who rode in the Epsom Derby, including winning rider Emmet McNamara, will not be allowed to ride in the Irish Oaks on Saturday.

Emmet McNamara: Derby-winning rider not permitted to ride in the Irish OaksCredit: Megan Ridgwell

McNamara, Seamie Heffernan and Padraig Beggy will have to sit out the Classic, despite all three returning negative Covid-19 tests, as their period of quarantine does not conclude until Monday.

Kavanagh said: "Those are the rules and there are no exceptions. The jockeys who rode at Epsom will not be able to ride at the Curragh this weekend."

Kavanagh does not expect the current 14-day quarantine for those returning or visiting Ireland to be eased any time soon.

"We are in the hands of the more general situation and racing is no different to any other business," he said. "It's frustrating, as it is for every business, but the government advice has always been sensible.

"We're expecting an announcement with regard to the 14-day quarantine on Monday and while I don't know what we're going to be told, I don't expect the current regulations to change in that announcement."

That is not good news for the sales ring after the 11th hour postponement of the Tattersalls Derby and May sales.

"Sales are heavily dependent on international buyers and it was a difficult position for Tattersalls. They had a responsibility in relation to government rules," Kavanagh added.

It also emerged on Wednesday night that government plans to allow larger crowds to gather - from 50 to 100 indoor and 200 to 500 outdoor - from next Monday will not now go ahead.

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