Much ado 'about' nothing? Tramore defends criticism of race distances

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is “satisfied” with the current description of race distances despite the governing body coming in for heavy criticism over the fact the Savills Chase won by reigning Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo at Tramore on New Year's Day was run over a longer distance than had been advertised.

The observation was made by At The Races' sectional times specialist Simon Rowlands, who estimated Al Boum Photo covered 287 yards longer than the stated 2m5f and 100 yards, before further criticising the IHRB for its approach to communicating the inaccuracies.

In Horse Racing Ireland's programme book, race distances are preceded by the word 'about', a caveat that doesn't tend to get published, including in HRI's own results.

However, the IHRB and Tramore racecourse manager Owen Byrne have defended the disparity with published race distances, citing rail movements and a desire for fresh ground as the main reason for the lack of precision with such information. Byrne suggested the difference was 80 metres, or 87.5 yards.

Tramore manager Owen Byrne: 'We're looking at a difference of 80 metres”Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

IHRB communications officer Niall Cronin said: “We are satisfied with the race distances as they are. The word ‘about’ in race descriptions allows for rail movements and different scenarios that may occur between the time a race is run and when the publication of the programme is made. There is an awful amount of fresh ground provided in Ireland and we have a lot of dual-purpose tracks.”

He added: “We have experienced clerks of the courses who take great pride in their work. They make amendments where they feel necessary, be it in consultation with riders for providing fresh ground or even for weather reasons. That is what they do and they do it very well. We are satisfied with the process given the constraints of setting up a lot of the Irish tracks for race days due to their undulating nature or simply the amount of racing a track stages and the need for fresh ground to be provided.”

Watch Al Boum Photo win a third Savills New Year's Day Chase at Tramore

Byrne stated the Savills Chase was run over 80 metres longer than the published trip because, following consultation with the riders, clerk of the course Paddy Graffin decided to push back the start to allow the five runners a better run at the first fence.

He explained on Tuesday: “First of all, all distances are down as ‘about’ in the programme. We've gone and walked the track this morning with the wheel and we are looking at a difference of 80 metres.”

Byrne added: “In consultation with the riders on the day of the race, we moved the start back. When we put things into the calendar, it is published a good bit before a race meeting and we would not know the layout of the track at that point.

“If people want to get into having exact distances or getting surveyors into a track we will never have fresh ground at any track. We move our rails in order to provide the best ground at different times throughout the year, therefore there are going to be variances. That is why the ‘about’ is in the calendar.”

Read more:

'All roads lead to Cheltenham' – Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo passes Tramore test

ITV cameras a ray of light as Limerick and Tramore face €500,000 hit

IHRB defends its anti-doping protocols after Sunday Times article

'I thought he was having a laugh' - Luke Harvey on his last-minute commentary

Members can click here to download the digital newspaper every evening from 9pm. Not a member? Click here to sign up and enjoy the digital newspaper every day.