Point to point racing shutdown threatens continued success of Irish horse breeders

From Irish farms to Cheltenham, the best jump racing horses in the world

Minella Indo ridden by John Barry to win at Dromahane, Mallow, Co Cork in March, 2018, one of four top Irish winners at Cheltenham to win his first race on the point-to-point track at the O’Brien farm at Dromahane. Unfortunately, the shutdown of point-to-point racing last January due to Covid-19 casts a shadow, even as the Irish racehorse industry celebrates its Cheltenham success. Picture: Healy Racing

Horse racing was a big winner for rural Ireland last week, and a good example of how our small island nation punches above its weight.

Irish success at Cheltenham was greeted as part of the St Patrick’s Day global celebration of Irishness around the globe.