Covid-19 Announcements in Thurles: Resumption of closed-door racing in Ireland is scheduled on the government roadmap no later than June 29
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
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Covid-19 Announcements in Thurles: Resumption of closed-door racing in Ireland is scheduled on the government roadmap no later than June 29
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Brian Kavanagh has defended Horse Racing Ireland’s six-day radio silence, and while the authority’s chief executive empathized with frustrated industry stakeholders, he insisted that the resumption of racing is an issue on which the government will have the last word.
The agriculture department finally confirmed Thursday night that the resumption of closed-door racing is scheduled in the government roadmap, which was published last Friday, June 29 at the latest.
Shortly after Thursday’s announcement, HRI broke its almost-week-long communications silence, and Kavanagh argued that it would have been a mistake to announce something before proper guidance had leaked from the government.
“The main problem was to resolve the general situation. We were looking for clarification, and when you have nothing to say, it is better not to say anything,” Kavanagh said.
“I can empathize with everyone in the industry and in many other industries that are struggling in this pandemic. I can fully understand the situation people are in.”
Brian Kavanagh: “We were looking for clarification and when you have nothing to say, it is better not to say anything”
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
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Brian Kavanagh: “We were looking for clarification and when you have nothing to say, it is better not to say anything”
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Kavanagh also emphasized that while HRI is pushing to advance the date for the resumption of races, the decision is out of reach.
Sources have suggested that HRI has not yet given up on resuming racing as early as phase one, which begins on May 18, but that an interim resolution in phase two on June 8 would at this stage be a satisfactory result. .
“Ultimately, as we have said all along, this is a matter for the government and medical professionals,” Kavanagh said. “We have presented our case and it would be a mistake to speculate on any resumption date.”
This is why the June 29th return to Irish racing absolutely has everyone’s goat.
“We said in the press release issued on Thursday night that we believe that racing may resume before June 29, but that is a decision that is beyond our control. We have presented the case and will commit now as described by the Taoiseach in his Dail speech on Thursday. “
HRI previously stated in its Covid-19 contingency plan that flat races would take precedence when races get the green light to resume. It is understood that those plans were made assuming that races would resume in May.
Gordon Elliott: Asked HRI to start competing as a whole instead of organizing four weeks of flat action when restrictions are lifted
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
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Gordon Elliott: Asked HRI to start competing as a whole instead of organizing four weeks of flat action when restrictions are lifted
Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
However, Gordon Elliott and Robbie Power, masters of their respective jumps crafts, asked HRI to restart the sport as a whole given the revised restart date.
Kavanagh suggested that flat racing remains the priority, but that both codes will be addressed in due course.
“There is an accumulation of flat races that we need to update,” he explained. “It will resume and then we’ll look at the details of the restart. We said we would resume with four weeks of flat racing and see how it works. It all depends on when the restart takes place.”
When asked if a June 29 restart would effectively lead to the jump racing returning at the end of July at the earliest, Kavanagh said: “It is too far to speculate on that. He would not speculate on any restart date at this stage. “
He added: “We will make sure the horses are satisfied in both codes as needed and as I said March through May is the start of the flat season and the priority is to start.
“But we will analyze the entire range of ages, categories, quality of the horse, both jumps and flat, but it will depend on the resumption dates.”
Read more:
HRI breaks the silence by announcing a proposal to resume racing before June 29
HRI’s information gap just wasn’t good enough when leadership is needed
Elliott: Trainers and riders face ruin if return from jump racing is delayed
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