Horse Racing Ireland

The inaugural Irish EBF Ballyhane S. at Naas Racecourse on Aug. 23 has had its purse upped to €320,000 from €200,000-making it the richest Irish 2-year-old race of the year--and a consolation race has been added due to high demand. The Irish EBF Ballyhane S., open to the progeny of sires with a median of no more than €75,000 at last year's yearling sales, attracted an initial 563 entries-an Irish record. The winner will receive €150,000 and prizemoney will be paid to all 20 runners, with the final five finishers...

In line with government guidelines and re-opening procedures, Horse Racing Ireland has ammended a number of its COVID-19 protocols, and has revealed that from July 20 up to two owners per horse will be allowed on course for their race(s). Before that, from July 1, the prohibition on racecourse attendees over the age of 70 will be removed; the limit on journalists and photographers will be increased to five from three; one representative of associations whose attendees are permitted to be at race meetings will be allowed; and premier handicaps...

Prize money levels have been restored to their pre-COVID-19 levels for each race in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series and the new Irish EBF Median Sires Series, the Irish European Breeders' Fund announced on Monday. Each race series had its prize money cut per race by €1,000 as a result of the coronavirus, but the Irish EBF stepped in to return prize money levels to pre-COVID. There are 10 Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction races and 11 Irish EBF Median Sires races to the beginning of August, with...

With the resumption of Irish racing looming on June 8, Horse Racing Ireland has released its full flat programme for July through to the end of the Galway Festival that concludes on Aug. 2. There will be 28 racing days through the month, including three days with double meetings and three blank days. The G1 Irish Oaks festival on July 18 and 19 has been enhanced with three Group 2 races added to the weekend: the Curragh Cup for older stayers and the Railway S. and Balanchine S. for 2-year-olds....

The Irish EBF has increased its contribution to prizemoney to €2.5-million for 2020, its highest-ever contribution since its establishment in 1983. The Irish EBF is working closely with Horse Racing Ireland to support the restart of racing on June 8 by ensuring all funds--including those not distributed during the suspension of racing--are allocated and the remaining prizemoney is assigned with a focus on grassroots races throughout the rest of the year. John O'Connor, chairman of the Irish EBF, said, "Prizemoney is the lifeblood of racing and supports owners, trainers, jockeys...

Horse Racing Ireland has released its full Flat programme for June and its July fixture list. The release included news of the Galway Festival, which will be run on its original dates of July 27 to August 2 but with some changes. The opening two days and the final two days of the meeting will feature Flat racing only, with National Hunt racing on the three cards in between. Racing in Ireland resumes on June 8 with a meeting at Naas. Jason Morris, HRI's director of racing, said, "We recognise...

Despite the delayed start to the flat season, Ireland will maintain its full group-race programme for 2019, Horse Racing Ireland revealed on Tuesday when it published the group and listed races and premier handicaps for the year. The majority of the country's Group 1 races remain in their original spots with the exception of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, which moves to July 26 and is now open to horses aged three and up; it was previously for 4-year-olds and older. Racing resumes in Ireland behind closed doors on June...

Irish racing will resume on June 8 with a card at Naas, with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas set for Friday, June 12 at The Curragh, and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas the following day. The G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Oaks remain on their traditional dates of June 27 and July 18, respectively, while Irish Champions Weekend will take place Sept. 12 and 13. International participation will be restricted to Group 1 and 2 races only for June, with personnel required to comply with government policy on the...

In the wake of Friday's announcement that racing will begin again in Ireland on June 8, Horse Racing Ireland on Saturday published a protocol document outlining the procedures that will be in place for operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The procedures, developing by HRI in consultation with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, must be undertaken by all racecourses hosting fixtures. A series of educational webinars will be announced next week to further assist understanding. "We have worked closely with the IHRB and the Senior Medical Officer Dr Jennifer Pugh in...

It appears unlikely that racing in Ireland will return in May, with the department of agriculture, food and the marine confirming on Thursday that racing falls under the umbrella of outdoor sports behind closed doors that will not be permitted to resume until the country's third tier of re-opening on June 29. The government has said it will consider proposals from sectors that wish to have restrictions lifted earlier, and Horse Racing Ireland said in a release on Thursday evening that it is in ongoing talks with the government. There...

Tote Ireland and the UK Tote have formed a seven-year alliance that will kick off on Jan. 1, 2021. Part of the alliance includes the development of a joint offering for international markets. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "Tote Ireland has always enjoyed a strong relationship with the racecourses in Ireland and has been a keen supporter and sponsor, as well as a trusted betting service for Irish racegoers for generations. "However, punters' habits have changed and that has led to a steady decline in the...

The inaugural renewal of the €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S. scheduled for Aug. 3 at Naas has drawn 563 entries--an Irish record. Those include 345 Irish-based entries, 217 from Britain and one entry from a Wesley Ward-trained colt in America. The six furlong race for 2-year-olds is open to the progeny of sires whose yearlings averaged no more than €75,000 last year. With racing off indefinitely, the forfeit stage has been postponed. Jason Morris, Horse Racing Ireland's director of racing, said, "The level of initial entries for the Irish EBF...