Management arrangements announced for Thurles

Peter Roe will oversee the management of Thurles Racecourse as part of his brief as Head of Racing of the four HRI racecourses, with Tipperary-based Jessica Cahalan of Laytown Races contracted by the family to handle operations for the duration of the agreement

RACING ON: The opening meeting of the season at Thurles Racecourse, an all-Flat card, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 9. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Three weeks out from the opening meeting at Thurles Racecourse on October 9, plans for the management of the racecourse have been announced by HRI and the Molony family.

In July, the Molonys, owners of Thurles Racecourse, announced their retirement from racing and closure of their track with immediate effect.

Following a period of close consultation between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR), the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and the Molony family, all parties have worked to find a solution to keep Thurles Racecourse operating for the 2025/26 season.

An agreement, announced on August 28 between Thurles Race Company and HRI, will see Peter Roe oversee the management of Thurles Racecourse as part of his brief as Head of Racing of the four HRI racecourses, with Tipperary-based Jessica Cahalan of Laytown Races contracted by the family to handle operations for the duration of the agreement, October to March of next year.

“We are delighted to fund and support this short-term solution which allows us to step back from the management of the racecourse while assigned fixtures can be fulfilled and racing can continue at our track,” Riona Molony said. 

“We are grateful to all parties involved, particularly Suzanne Eade and her team at Horse Racing Ireland for supporting us to ensure the right people are in place to make it possible. This is a great result for Irish racing and I’m delighted to hand over to Peter and Jessica to take things from here.” 

HRI CEO Suzanne Eade said: “We would like to acknowledge the support of the Molony family in facilitating the continuation of racing at Thurles until they have determined their longer-term plans for the racecourse. Thurles has long been fundamental to the winter racing schedule and with the support of the wider industry, we hope that this can continue into the future."

The opening meeting of the season at Thurles Racecourse, an all-Flat card, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 9. The first of the National Hunt fixtures will take place on Thursday, October 16.