Leading politician promises to push racing's case to get crowds back in summer

A prominent TD has pledged to fight racing’s case to get crowds back on course in time for the Galway and Listowel festivals this summer.

Horse Racing Ireland is waiting for government approval to stage pilot events next month that would allow a limited number of spectators back at tracks, with the latest update on easing of restrictions due to be announced on Friday.

Fine Gael TD Peter Burke, whose constituency is Longford and Westmeath, insists he is providing a voice for racing at government level and is quietly confident that racing will be included in the new pilot initiatives.

“I would be hopeful that racing will get some share of the pilot initiatives,” Burke explained. “That’s what I want and that’s what I have been pushing for.”

It is understood racing’s need to get spectators back was discussed at length at a Fine Gael parliamentary meeting on Wednesday evening.

Galway: crowds could return in time for the summer festival in JulyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Horse Racing Ireland has put forward a detailed application and Burke hinted the government would look favourably on the sport given its track record with the adopting and implementing of strict protocols while racing behind closed doors.

Burke said: “I really fought the case for racing to return behind closed doors last year and we achieved it. Racing shone through with the protocols they introduced and how they implemented them and I think that will stand to racing in its bid to get crowds back.”

He added: “We see Ascot in the UK are doing a pilot project for their big festival in June. Racing in Ireland should follow that initiative. There have been very strict and robust protocols in place in racing already and the racing community has proved itself to be able to do this, and do it professionally.

“It is a very low-risk activity given it is all outdoors and I am fighting the case that it will become a reality very shortly that crowds will return.”

Although the government has indicated the trials could see crowds of up to five per cent of stadium capacity return for sports fixtures and concerts, it is understood the figure could vary and may even be closer to ten per cent of capacity at some racecourses.

Burke, who has a strong background in racing, highlighted the importance of having some level of paying customers back on course in time for the Galway and Listowel festivals for the sake of local economies.

He said: “The likes of Galway and Listowel, those festivals mean so much to the local economies, and we really need to ensure the viability of that is seen in the broader context. Once it is done in a safe manner we should be considering having crowds back in time for those festivals.

“HRI have put forward the case in great detail in terms of how it would work. Everything down to traffic flow, people flow, testing, and what areas would be used on the track. There is a pathway there and we need to embark on that road back to normality now.”

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