A meeting of the Board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) was held this morning to assess the implications of yesterday’s changed Government advice around Covid-19 and the suspension of all horse racing fixtures until April 19 at the earliest.
The Board expressed its full and ongoing support for and commitment to the efforts of the Government to fight the transmission of Covid-19 and pledged the input of racing’s personnel and infrastructure to assist as necessary.
Horse Racing Ireland 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 (Tuesday), 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.”
