Horse Racing Ireland are making their facilities available to the HSE during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Racing had been continuing behind closed doors up until yesterday’s introduction of new government measures to tackle the virus.
All horse racing fixtures have been suspended until April 19th at the earliest.
The HSE began preparations yesterday to use Mallow racecourse as a test centre, and Horse Racing Ireland say they’ll identify other personnel and infrastructure that may be useful.
HRI Chairman, Nicky Hartery said:
“What is most important is that as a country we do all we can individually and collectively to fight the transmission of Covid-19 and focus on our health, ensuring that resources such as medical facilities and personnel are allocated where the need is most.
“We have consistently said that racing’s facilities are at the disposal of the Government. Yesterday, the HSE began preparations to use Cork Racecourse in Mallow as a much-needed testing centre for the virus and the centre will be operational from tomorrow. Horse Racing Ireland will be working with the HSE and the Government to identify other elements of racing’s personnel and infrastructure that could be used in the co-ordinated reaction to the crisis.”
