Listowel and Fairyhouse delighted to welcome owners back after six-month hiatus

Listowel and Fairyhouse are hugely looking forward to the return of owners to Irish tracks on Monday for the first time since March 17, with both venues viewing the move as a small but vital step in the right direction.

Under the new Living With Covid guidelines published on Tuesday, level 2 – at which almost all of Ireland is currently classified as being – allows for 200 spectators in stadia that can accommodate 5,000 people or more, thus enabling the return of owners.

The development has led to Listowel and Fairyhouse being able to host owners at racecourses in Ireland for the first time in more than six months, a situation that contrasts with Britain where owners have been able to go racing since July.

"Irish racing is doing a great job and bringing owners back is another step in the right direction," said Listowel Race Company chairman Pat Healy.

"It's nowhere like a normal year but having owners back and seeing them greet their winners will add to the atmosphere. We can't push the boat out to look after them like we always do, and the owners' facilities are not in play because of the protocols, but we'll supply them with tea, coffee, sandwiches and biscuits."

Fairyhouse general manager Peter Roe also stressed the importance of seeing the key stakeholders back on Irish racecourses, but likewise warned that owners should be prepared for a significantly different experience than before Covid-19.

"We're delighted to be welcoming back owners, they're the cornerstone of racing," he said. "It's an outdoor event and that will be the basis of their afternoon here. Racing is very different behind closed doors and it won't be the experience owners were used to.

"We'll have tea, coffee and sandwiches for the owners courtesy of sponsorship from Tattersalls Ireland. It's a baby step, but at least it is a step in the right direction."

Fairyhouse: the numbers of spectators increasing could be the key to the track's futureCredit: Alain Barr

With government restrictions appearing to limit spectators on tracks to 500 over the next six months, Healy believes support from racing's authorities is crucial to the survival of racecourses.

"Tracks are under pressure, everybody knows that, and there's no way of knowing when this is going to end," he said.

"The important thing is for Air [Association of Irish Racecourses] and Horse Racing Ireland to work together to make sure racetracks get through this, no matter how long it lasts."

For Fairyhouse, the numbers of spectators increasing, or specific guidelines being generated for their Easter festival in April, could be key to the viability of the historic fixture in 2021.

"The restrictions appear to be in place for the next six months and that would lead us up to March," said Roe. "Easter falls in early April next year so hopefully everything can continue to go in the right direction towards that point."

Dublin is currently the only region in Ireland to have more strict Covid-19 restrictions on level 3 of the government's roadmap, and Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board senior medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh is appealing to owners in the county not to attend fixtures.

She said: "We're obviously delighted to have owners back at racecourses and in these ever-changing times we'll be adhering to government regulations throughout.

"National guidelines state that those living in Dublin are encouraged not to leave the county unless it is for essential reasons, and going to race meetings as an owner doesn't fall under those guidelines.

"We're appealing for owners in Dublin not to leave the county to go racing, and we have the ability to check addresses on the database should they arrive."

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