Thurles

Thurles Racecourse will continue to operate through March 2027, following discussions between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Thurles Racing Company. The first meeting of next season is scheduled for October. Last August, it was announced the course was to close with immediate effect after the Molony family, who had owned the track since the early 1900s, decided to retire from racing. After a public outcry championed by Willie Mullins among others, an agreement was reached to continue for another year. Riona Molony said, "We are pleased to continue this short-term...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features the ninth foal of Lilly Langtry. 1.45 Thurles, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8f 44yT MOTHER'S DAY (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the ninth foal out of Danehill Dancer's Coronation and Matron heroine Lillie Langtry who has proven a revelation for Coolmore by providing a trio of Classic-winning Galileo...

Racing will take place in Ireland on Good Friday for the first time in 2026, with the Curragh set to stage a fixture on April 3. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) published the new fixture list on Friday with the number of meetings staying the same for the third consecutive year. The Flat season will also see an enhanced programme of Sunday fixtures beginning in May, while there will be seven blank Sundays in total - one more than in 2025. Racing on Good Friday will come from the current allocation...

Thurles Racecourse, which had been due to close this month after owners the Molony family decided to retire from racing, will continue operating until at least March of 2026. There was a productive meeting between the Molony family and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) on Thursday. The only privately owned racecourse in Ireland, Thurles had 11 scheduled fixtures for the 2025/2026 season. A joint-statement from HRI and the Molony family read, "Following a positive meeting this afternoon between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony family, Thurles Race Company will facilitate the...

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan remains in intensive care following a fall at Thurles last week. Dr Jennifer Pugh, chief medical officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), issued an update on X on Tuesday which read, "Michael continues to receive the best of care in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital. "Michael's family remain overwhelmed by the support and well wishes they have received over the last number of days." O'Sullivan's mount, the Gerard O'Leary-trained Wee Charlie (Ire), was one of three fallers at the final fence of...

Moyglare Stud provided the jewels in the crown of the Goffs February Sale when two well-bred colts by hot stallions Blue Point (Ire) and Study Of Man (Ire) sold for a combined €415,000, which accounted for just over 10 per cent of the entire turnover at Kildare Paddocks this week.  It was the Blue Point colt out of Dansili (GB) mare Tina Angelina (Ire) who commanded a sale-topping €250,000 when selling to Tally-Ho Stud while Matt Coleman--signing under The Investors--landed the Study Of Man for €165,000.  All told, the turnover...

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan is in intensive care following a fall at Thurles on Thursday. O'Sullivan was riding Wee Charlie for Gerard O'Leary and was one of three fallers at the last in the two-mile Racing Again February 20th Handicap Chase, with two other runners badly hampered and unseating their riders. The rest of the meeting was abandoned after the second race as the air ambulance arrived to take O'Sullivan to hospital. An update on X from Dr Jennifer Pugh, chief medical officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said, "Michael...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a relative of Grade I sire Gio Ponti (Tale Of The Cat). 14.15 Thurles, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 8f 11yT Aidan O'Brien trainee GUSHING (American Pharoah), a $435,000 Keeneland September graduate, is a daughter of GIII Cardinal H. third Antonia Autumn (Bernstein), herself a half-sister to...

All 26 Irish racecourses have approved the Racecourse Media Group (RMB)/SIS Media Rights deal and have authorised the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) to sign the contracts on their behalf, AIR announced on Friday. The deal will begin on Jan. 1, 2024. In May, 21 of the racecourses agreed to the deal, with Kilbeggan, Roscommon, Sligo, Limerick and Thurles Racecourses rejecting it. This week, discussions were held with AIR and the HRI Media Rights Committee, which resulted in the quintet of outliers agreeing to the proposal. Chairman of AIR, Conor...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of Grade I winner Daddys Lil Darling.   2.00 Thurles, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 8fT SAVETHELASTDANCE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of the GI American Oaks heroine Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy), who was purchased by M V Magnier for $3.5...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Insights features a full-sister to G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Maybe (Ire). 2.15 Thurles, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, f, 8f 11yT MADONNA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) makes her second appearance for Ballydoyle following a promising debut third at Navan in August. The May-foaled bay is a full-sister to the G1...