Sulky racing recommendations ‘nonsensical’

A governing body for sulky racing in Ireland yesterday dismissed as nonsensical recommendations by a joint policing committee to allegedly “regulate” the sport.

Cork County JPC wants the Department of Transport to ensure sulky drivers wear helmets and high-visibility jackets and have carriages fitted with anti-roll bars and horse dung containers. The recommendations are aimed at sulky racing on public roads, but the Irish Trotting and Harness Racing Federation yesterday emphasised official racing clubs are highly regulated and confine harness activities to grass tracks.

“Certain road race activities give the sport a bad name, but they are not organised or associated with the federation,” said ITHRF chairman Con O’Sullivan.

The federation, he said, organises wintertime road races on closed-off routes, which have the permission of local authorities. However, sulky racing is not included in any official road race programmes which are for saddled events only.

“When we organise any events, we present a safety plan. We also ensure all our riders or drivers wear a body protection and we have veterinary personnel on site.”

Sulky road-racing is traditionally associated with the Traveller community and such participants are not members of the ITHRF or the Irish Harness Racing Club, which operate grass tracks in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, West Cork and Annaghmore in Co Armagh.

The Irish clubs, north and south, are also affiliated to European and world governing bodies of the sport. The organisations in Ireland have safety committees and grading committees.

With over 100 horse owners and breeders in Munster, alone, one owner, who did not wish to be named, said yesterday: “I can’t figure out why the joint policing committee wants to bring in recommendations to legalise sulky road racing which is illegal.

“The people involved in road racing are nothing but trouble for those properly associated with the sport. All members registered in Ireland are associated with a European Trotting Union and a world governing body. “However, any obstacle they can put in the way of people involved in illegal road racing people would be a blessing.”