The Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) is calling for an urgent review of attendance restrictions.
The association, which represents 26 courses, says there is a growing frustration at capped attendance for spectators and the lack of clarity around when racegoers can attend in greater numbers.
The Tramore races get underway this evening with numbers capped at 500.
Clerk of the Course Brendan Sheridan rings the bell for the riders to mount Downpatrick Photo: Patrick McCann 26.09.2012
General Manager of the seaside track Owen Byrne told WLR racing has been left behind:
"We've been left standing in the stalls from an attendance point of view. We were best in class with our protocols and we really haven't capitalised on that in terms of getting people back racing. So it's very frustrating - we have the biggest week of the year starting today and I have 500 people each day and only 150 tickets sold to the general public."
Owen says he can't understand why more people aren't allowed in:
"Gate receipts are an integral part of what we do and we just don't have them. I'm baffled why, we're an open-air outdoor venue and running it as such and we're not allowed have more people. My capacity here is 1,100 people, I have 500. The roadmap published a number of months ago guided us towards 25% of capacity, well that's 2,750 people a day that's a long way north of 500."
Paddy Walsh, CEO of AIR commented “Our members have done everything that has been asked of them since the white flag was raised and we resumed racing behind closed doors. Racecourses have turned their facilities inside out to ensure that protocols and guidelines have been meticulously adhered to at our tracks nationwide. The fact that racing has continued without incident with capped attendances nationwide and at trial events with 1,000 spectators at meetings which took place at festivals like The Curragh and Galway Races, furthers our resolve to welcome more racing fans back to our facilities soonest.
"Racecourses are fundamentally unique sporting venues with copious outdoor viewing areas to ensure the safety of our patrons. Our personnel are highly skilled professionals who are familiar with and more than capable of catering for spectators greater than the current limits imposed and each racecourse has independent regulatory and compliance officers on-site to ensure consistency nationwide. There has been sizable investment in outdoor facilities and Covid-19 protocol and guideline implementation at all racecourses we represent to facilitate greater attendances and we are requesting an urgent review of the current capacity restrictions which are unsustainable for many.”
Style Evening
31/05/2019. Pictured at Tramore racecourse. Pictured is Sarah Cass from Kilkenny. Picture: Patrick Browne
Despite the restricted attendance this year, that is no reason to forgo a bit of style.
The competition will be hosted online for the second time this year with many already planning their outfits and making plans to meet up and celebrate, taking pictures of their glamourous attire in the hope of winning this year’s most coveted prizes.
The competition will be run over the first three days of the four-day August fixture from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th inclusive and the winner announced live on social media on Sunday 15th the concluding day of the festival.
