The facilities will be limited but it will be a happy occasion when Shelbourne Park re-opens for racing this evening following the longest break the track has had since the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

THERE was relief in the voice of Shelbourne racing manager Declan Carey when he confirmed yesterday morning that racing will definitely resume at Shelbourne Park tomorrow night.

The general media world, which normally pays scant regard to the greyhound sector, suddenly discovered there is such a sport yesterday as a result of yesterday morning’s story in the Irish Examiner concerning the loss of meetings at Shelbourne Park this week due to the recent flooding problem.

HOPES that Shelbourne Park could resume this week have been dashed following the announcement yesterday that the meetings planned for tomorrow and Saturday have been called off.

THE weather is again playing absolute havoc with the Irish greyhound schedule and numerous meetings have been ruled out this week.

Here’s hoping that the worst predictions of the Met Office prove off the mark and that the Christmas racing schedule can continue at full pace at tracks all over the country over the weekend.

IRISH Greyhound Board chairman Dick O’Sullivan is stepping down early in the New Year and will confirm his decision to the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith at a meeting today.

While there was no racing in Ireland last night, there are strong hopes that a virtual full resumption can commence this evening.

THE weather continues to paralyse the Irish racing scene with Cork and Clonmel the only southern tracks able to race last night and already as many as six of tonight’s meetings cancelled.