HRI to Assist Racecourses With Stabling Capacity

Horse Racing Ireland has announced a €1 million (US$1,212,000) funding plan to assist racecourses with their stabling capacity in the hope that field sizes can return to pre-COVID-19 levels according to director of racing Jason Morris.

Having one horse per stable at each Irish fixture is a key requirement as part of the industry's COVID-19 protocols to ensure that stable staff could comply with social distancing guidelines and deliver on greater equine infection control measures.

Field sizes have been hit as a consequence, but Morris expects the €1 million funding plan to resolve the issue. He also stated that racecourses who cannot accommodate maximum runners will not be allowed to stage eight-race cards.

Morris said: "The rule by which racecourses must provide each horse with their own stable has been in place since racing moved behind closed doors in June of last year for both human and equine disease prevention reasons.

"As a result, the number of horses running in some races at some racecourses is lower than it could be when the maximum stable capacity is reached.

"Field sizes have been reduced since last June for social distancing and other operational reasons, and the aim of the new Racecourse Stable Yard Expansion Scheme is to help racecourses to prepare for when we emerge from racing behind closed doors and the number of runners can safely revert to pre-COVID-19 levels."

With the exception of high value feature races, with limits of 20 or 22 for premier or graded handicaps, safety limits have generally been set at a maximum of 18 per race since racing's resumption. Some tracks have been impacted more than others due to safety, social distancing, or stable capacity reasons.

At Navan, where 30 horses used to be able to run in a hurdle race, the maximum on Sunday is 20, but that is due to social distancing requirements rather than stabling capacity.

Wexford (79 stables), where the normal limit would be 14, and Sligo (82 stables), with traditional limits of 14-16, are the tracks with the lowest capacities, while the likes of Downpatrick, Down Royal, Clonmel, Tramore, and Thurles all have fewer than 100 boxes.

At Thurles on Monday, with 93 declarations, the stable capacity was at its limit, after field sizes, which would have had a limit of 16 in the past, were reduced to 13 for chases and 14 and 15 for the bumper and hurdles, respectively.  

Morris added: "We have written to all racecourses to inform them of the new scheme which sets aside €1m with the goal of increasing stabling capacity. The fund allows racecourses to avail of a grant of 40% of the cost of the construction of additional stable boxes and is similar to previous racecourse capital development programs which have produced very positive results, both customer and industry facing, at so many racecourses.

"It will be the case going forward that racecourses which cannot accommodate maximum runners run the risk of only being able to stage seven- or even six-race cards, which could reduce their future fixture allocation."