Elliott: trainers and jockeys face ruin if jump racing's return is delayed

Gordon Elliott and Robbie Power have demanded racing in Ireland returns as a whole to prevent widespread ruin in the jumps sector.

The leading trainer and jockey on Monday were critical of Horse Racing Ireland over the lack of communication and clarity provided to key stakeholders since Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed the nation on Friday.

The pair have predicted catastrophic consequences if jump racing is left in limbo any longer and maintain summer jumps trainers have been completely ignored.

HRI has previously stated that, when racing returns in Ireland, there will be a month of Flat racing before jumps will be given the green light, as was set out in the Covid-19 contingency plan published last month.

However, it is understood such plans were made on the assumption that racing would return behind closed doors some time in May, so the prospect of a delay until June 29 has escalated concerns.

Gordon Elliott and Robbie Power: demand clarity from Horse Racing IrelandCredit: Patrick McCann

Elliott is fuming over the situation and predicted many jobs will be needlessly lost if jump racing is sidelined any longer than it needs to be.

“At the moment we are looking at the possibility of racing not returning until mid to late June and I don’t think we can allow the National Hunt season to gather dust for another month after that," he said on Monday.

“There are an awful lot of trainers and jockeys out there who have families to support and care for and mortgages to pay and they will face ruin if we can’t get back jump racing until late July or early August.

“As well as that owners are going to need clarity about what the future holds for their horses. Many of them have been very patient up to now and they deserve some clear answers going forward as to when their horses might be back in action.”

Elliott added: “This has been a very difficult time for everybody and I know racing is just one of many walks of life that is facing up to an uncertain future.

“I’m sure detailed plans are being drawn up for the next few months and within those plans we can’t leave National Hunt racing behind.”

Hopes of a May resumption have been ebbing away since the roadmap for the phased reopening of sectors and activities was published on Friday evening, where it specifically stated that there would be no behind-closed-door sports in Ireland until June 29 at the earliest.

With some outdoor work and sports activities due to be permitted in the first phase of lockdown restrictions being eased from May 18, there is still some hope racing might resume then.

HRI officials, believed to be caught unawares by the phase three slot, have since Friday been working frantically to convince government that racing should be allowed back earlier, having successfully hosted ten meetings behind closed doors up to March 24.

There has been little communication from HRI with the press or the relevant stakeholders since Friday and the radio silence continued on Monday. A board meeting is understood to be scheduled for Tuesday to finalise the plan for convincing government of the merits of racing returning in phase one.

Phase two begins on June 8, and the reopening of livestock markets from then might point to a potential compromise should HRI fail to secure the phase one slot, given racing also falls under the department of agriculture remit.

Robbie Power: “We have been left out in the cold completely and, now that it looks like we are not going to be back until June, jumps racing can't be pushed to one side any longer.'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Power, who has not ridden out in any yard since the last meeting in Ireland took place behind closed doors on March 24, echoed the points made by Elliott.

He said: “Obviously there is a bigger picture here but, when it is safe to race, National Hunt racing needs to be included in the resumption plans. We have been left out in the cold completely and, now that it looks like we are not going to be back until June, jump racing can't be pushed to one side any longer."

Power added: “Jump racing has missed as much, if not more, than Flat racing has this summer – in the original programme book there is as much jump racing in May as there is Flat racing.

“Looking ahead towards the bigger meetings, you just can't start back a National Hunt season a week before Galway – the whole programme would be in disarray.

“There are so many racecourses in Ireland that are missing out – Downpatrick, Kilbeggan, Punchestown, Sligo and Ballinrobe – which are mainly jumps tracks. There is no reason why jump racing can't start back the same time as Flat racing in Ireland.”

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar provides tentative hope for racing to resume this month

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