Ruby Walsh: Racing’s TV availability to Irish fan base under real threat

Potentially, Irish viewers could find themselves in a position where they are forced to watch daily racing in their local betting shop, possibly via some black-market dodgy box or on bookmaker websites.

Highland Charm & Neil Ryan (left) win the Writech Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan last night. Pic: Healys

I can remember the days when you checked the racing results in the betting shop window and moved on to checking them on Teletext until phone line commentaries arrived and you could listen to races live.

I didn’t know what the tracks which weren’t on the RTÉ, BBC, ITV or Channel 4 roster looked like before I physically went there myself because it was the age of non-dedicated racing TV channels. I also remember hurrying from home to watch the last two races from Cheltenham in our local betting shop because that was the only option when the terrestrial coverage finished.