Irish horse racing continues amid Covid-19 restrictions

by Kim Mullahey · Published October 20, 2020 · Updated January 13, 2023

Feel free to share:

THERE was deep concern among the Irish horse racing community up until last Monday night, 19^th October that the sport would be suspended when the country moved to Level 5 in the ‘Plan for living with Covid-19’, the national framework for living with the pandemic.

There has been widespread relief within the Irish horse racing community that the sport will continue as before as new restrictions have come into effect

NPHET, the country’s National Public Health Emergency Team had advised the Irish government to move to Level 5 for a duration of six weeks.

The Irish government has made an exception to NPHET recommendations, permitting the continuation of elite sports to continue as before behind closed doors.

“In line with current NPHET advice in respect of Level 5, professional, elite sports and intercounty games, horse racing and greyhound racing can continue behind closed doors, said a government statement released last Monday night.

While Irish racing will continue as before the country’s bookmakers must close their doors under the national framework. With the sector’s non-essential retail operations closed for months during the initial lockdown online betting has become the only resource until the Irish government reviews the timeframe in four weeks.

@AtTheRaces @RacingTV @InThePynck