Thurles Racecourse secures lifeline as Horse Racing Ireland steps in to run fixtures until March

The track has been saved from closure after Horse Racing Ireland agreed a deal to oversee operations until March 2026

A view of Thurles Racecourse Mandatory Credit. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho

The future of Thurles racecourse has been secured, in the short-term, at least. Confirmation of an agreement between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony Family and Thurles Race Company, with operational responsibility passing to HRI, came from a meeting between the parties on Thursday afternoon.

The agreement ensures that the track will fulfil its fixture list, which consists of 11 meetings, up until March of next year. In the meantime, all parties involved will have the opportunity to consider a longer-term plan for the track.

When the news of the track’s immediate closure came at the beginning of this month, it dropped like a bombshell. A venue of great tradition which has been a vital cog in the National Hunt roster for many years, it has oft been a beacon through tough times, and its closure would leave a hole in the industry.

‘Ever-increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business,’ were cited as major factors in the decision to close and, inevitably, there has been much speculation about its future ever since.

Questions of how or, indeed, if the venue could be revitalised to continue its service as a racecourse, which it has been for the best part of three centuries, consumed the industry. While they have not been answered satisfactorily with yesterday’s announcement, the agreement provides some breathing room while the pros, cons and costs of potential moves are thoroughly examined.

In the scheme of the annual roster of meetings, which falls only a few meetings shy of 400, the load on Thurles is relatively small, but the consideration of movement of those 11 programmes is not as simple in actuality as it might read.

Many tracks are unable to host winter meetings and the additional cost of the conservation and preparation of ground into that period in order to pick up the slack for meetings lost were Thurles to remain closed may not be cost-effective.

Thus, it is unsurprising that HRI and the parties involved have worked together so hastily to secure a temporary fixture which may allow for a longer term solution to benefit both parties.

The next scheduled meeting at Thurles is on Thursday, October 9, when this last privately owned track in Ireland will be run by HRI.