Restrictions in Place for 2022 Irish Stallion Trail

Next month's Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Irish Stallion Trail will be restricted to breeders and those directly involved in the industry due to the ongoing concerns over the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

Taking place Jan. 14-15, more than 25 stallion farms are set to participate in the Trail including the likes of Coolmore, Ballylinch, and Yeomanstown Studs, but attendance will be limited to those in the breeding industry in order to protect public health and minimize risk to farms ahead of the covering season.

Charles O'Neill of ITM said: "We are pleased that the ITM Irish Stallion Trail is able to go ahead this January, but feel it is in the best interests of farms and public health to limit attendance to the breeding industry.

"Irish stallion farms stand some of the most successful sires on the planet and make a significant contribution to the Irish economy."

He continued: "While we are keen to promote Irish thoroughbred breeding to a broad audience through the Trail, we recognize our responsibility to minimize risk to farms ahead of the covering season and do what is right regarding public health."

Visitors to the studs will be asked to comply with a COVID-19 code of conduct developed by Horse Racing Ireland Health and Safety, which is available on the ITM website.

To register for the ITM Irish Stallion Trail 2022, visit www.itm.ie/stalliontrail.