RTE to end extra hour-long racing broadcasts as more live sport returns

RTE has revealed that its Covid-19 lockdown-inspired live racing programmes are over, with the resumption of other sports meaning the national broadcaster will revert to normal levels of racing coverage.

The productions, which were hailed as an opportunity to attract new followers to Irish racing by HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh, were introduced last month to feed sports fans starved of live action, with ten extra broadcasts across Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Tracks that typically would not feature regularly on terrestrial television, such as Bellewstown, Kilbeggan, Dundalk and Navan, were showcased in the hour-long shows presented by Hugh Cahill, with input from Jane Mangan, Ruby and Ted Walsh in the studio, while Brian Gleeson reported on-track.