New era begins as Shelbourne goes live

We’re moving forward in the industry this evening as, for the first time, racing from Shelbourne Park goes live into the betting shops of Ireland and Britain and I’m quite excited to see how it will be presented as well as how much interest it will get from customers.

It’s as good a night as any to get the process under way, with 10 first-round heats of the ETS Irish Derby taking place and such canine luminaries as 525 track record holder and Champion Stakes winner Paradise Madison, former star pup Milldean Panther, reigning champ Skywalker Puma and Easter Cup winner North Bound in action.

This showcases the very best we have to offer and if tonight doesn’t begin with a real bang it will never take off. I share all concerns about where this might or might not take us but gaining a real interest from the wider public is vital and these next few weeks could be crucial to the future of the sport.