Racing set to continue at Ballybeggan Park
At tomorrow night's directors meeting it is expected that the motion to put the Tralee racecourse up for sale will be withdrawn and will not be down for discussion either at next week's AGM of the shareholders.
Discussion will now take place tomorrow night on a business plan drawn up by the anti-sale lobby which contains some radical proposals that will, it is hoped, help restore Ballybeggan Park as a profitable racecourse.
The decision of the directors will be known on Thursday but all sides are believed to be nearing a consensus on the issue which will see racing and coursing continuing at Ballybeggan Park at least in the interim.
Meanwhile, Johnny Murtagh won his appeal to the Irish Turf Club yesterday against a 2,000 fine for pulling out of two rides at the Curragh because he could not do the weight.
He cried off the British-trained pair Notable Lady in the Group One Phoenix Stakes and Caldy Dancer in the Group Three Debutante Stakes on August 10 because he was unable to ride at the required weight of 8st 11lb.
The Curragh stewards said they were "not satisfied with his conduct and recent record in this regard", but Murtagh felt the fine was over the top.
Murtagh attended yesterday's hearing of the Appeals and Referrals Committee, who found there was no breach of rule and allowed his appeal.
The jockey's weight problems intensified following a fall from Red Power at Royal Ascot in June and he has taken a complete break from riding over the last two weeks.
He is, however, set to return to the saddle at Limerick tomorrow to do 9st 7lb on Hanabad for owner the Aga Khan and trainer John Oxx in the Advanced Securities Race over a mile for three-year-olds.
He is also hoping to ride Alamshar in the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Murtagh's agent Eddie Byrne expressed his delight at the decision. "We thought it was pretty harsh in the beginning," he said."
Confirming plans for a return to the saddle this week, Byrne added: "He hopes to be riding Hanabad in the mile race at Limerick on Wednesday.
"However, John (Oxx) has two horses in the mile-and-a-half handicap Baikal, who won at Tralee last Friday and would have a 5lb penalty, and Spycatcher, who ran well at the Curragh yesterday.
"They are both entered and at this stage he could possibly ride one of those as well.
"It would be fantastic to see him back on Alamshar, and we'd be hopeful of that, but things aren't going to be rushed. We'll just see what happens on Wednesday.
"He's been in good form for the last week the break has done him good and he's come back refreshed. He was riding work readily at John Oxx's last week and this week."
Byrne went on: "His back wouldn't be completely cleared up but probably wouldn't be as troublesome as it was.
"It has to heal in a natural way, and at the beginning he was advised that it was going to take a number of months."
