Dundalk on course for all-weather track
However, Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh stressed yesterday that there are: “many significant considerations to be resolved.”
The Board was yesterday informed that Limerick Junction Race Company Ltd. has withdrawn its application to host such a facility at Tipperary Racecourse while Arena Leisure plc, promoters of the Abbotstown venue in Dublin, are not currently in a position to advance their plans.
“HRI is committed to the development of an all-weather track in Ireland, as outlined in our five-year Strategic Plan,” said Mr Kavanagh.
“Dundalk has emerged as the only site with potential for the development of all-weather racing in Ireland within a realistic time-frame. The HRI Board has therefore approved a provisional capital allocation for the development of an all-weather track and facilities. There are, however, many significant considerations to be resolved before we could enter into a binding agreement with Dundalk.”
Specifically these include Dundalk’s ability to secure funding of €8 million to finance their share of the cost of the project along with an expansion of the proposed facilities to provide an enhanced internal crowd capacity.
The HRI Board are also seeking the incorporation of a 5-furlong sprint track within the plans, in addition to the proposed 10-furlong oval.
They have also asked Dundalk officials to produce a viable business plan based on 20 fixtures to be run as two blocks of ten floodlit evening meetings: one in the spring, one in the autumn and an additional five high-quality cards.
HRI’s Director of Racing Jason Morris outlined the implications of an all-weather track for racing: “The case for an all-weather track is overwhelming in view of the ever increasing demand from the Flat horse population for opportunities to run.
“The number of horses balloted out of Flat races has risen six-fold from 851 in 2000 to 5,258 in 2004. It must be stressed, however, that an all-weather track will not be developed by HRI merely to provide low-class racing with low prize-money.
“The intention is to offer a well-balanced and properly funded race programme catering for all sections of the Flat horse population up to and including Listed standard. To this end an annual provision will be set aside in HRI’s future budgets to fund prize-money and integrity costs for 25 all-weather fixtures at similar levels to Turf meetings.”
Jim Martin, chief executive of Dundalk Racecourse, welcomed the announcement.
“We are delighted that HRI has announced its qualified support for the development of an all-weather track at Dundalk. We accept that there are still some significant hurdles to cross and we are actively seeking the additional investment needed to bring this project to fruition. I am confident that by working together with HRI, 2006 will see the launch of all-weather racing at Dundalk”
