Tramore to take advantage of relaxation of Covid restrictions at Sunday fixture

Tramore will utilise the increase in numbers permitted at outdoor sporting events from this weekend by hosting 150 to 200 of its shareholders at Sunday's jumps fixture, with up to 500 people now permitted to attend racecourses after a relaxation of Covid rules announced by the Irish government on Tuesday.

It was expected the change in policy would take effect next Monday, but the easing was brought forward to Saturday for sports events – too late for Ireland's other three fixtures this weekend at Bellewstown, Limerick and Naas.

Owners have attended Irish tracks since 200 people were allowed at outdoor events from June 7, but the scope for 300 more on Irish tracks opens the door for racecourse members and general spectators to return.

Tramore: hosting meetings behind closed doors since the beginning of the pandemicCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

What racecourses do with the extra numbers is at the discretion of individual tracks, Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh said this week.

Tramore manager Owen Byrne said: "It's come very soon but we are going to utilise the increased numbers. The shareholders have Air cards and so we can allow them to return in a controlled way.

"We have a nice spread put on for them and our owners with a bit of a July 4 theme. We felt we'd get a practice trial run for ourselves before [our four-day meeting in] August."

General spectators could return at Naas' July 21 meeting, with members set to be factored into the additional 300 bodies permitted on site for that fixture.

The track's general manager Eamonn McEvoy said: "We were informed on Wednesday at around 5.30pm to say we could have additional numbers here on Saturday but we'd have to correspond with members and it was just too tight, with a lot of members having to do health screening for the first time.

Naas: played host to Ireland's first fixture after the sport's shutdown last yearCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'd rather it go off well than not and we're working towards our next fixture. We'll be contacting our members and there will be tickets made available."

No decision has been made yet as to whether Limerick will make use of the additional capacity for its remaining two meetings this month, with hopes for larger crowds by the time the following fixtures come around in October.

"We don't really have outdoor facilities and I'm conscious that we don't do more harm than good by bringing people back when we can't give them an enjoyable experience," said manager Patrick O'Callaghan.

Bellewstown general manager Kevin Coleman said: "We thought about it but it's just come too quick for us. It's a positive look for our August 24 and 25 meetings, though. It's almost premature to look too far ahead but people are chomping at the bit to get back."

Coleman, who also oversees operations at Laytown, is hopeful that the once-a-year beach meeting will get the green light for September 2 after being cancelled last year, but he told the Racing Post there will be no corporate hospitality at the 2021 event.

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