County Kilkenny track takes centre stage as horse racing returns next month
A picturesque racecourse in the heart of county Kilkenny will be one of the first in Ireland to welcome back big-time horse racing.
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) yesterday unveiled the fixture list for the opening weeks of the season and Gowran Park will be one of the first to see the magnificent beasts in full flight, with three meetings in the first ten days of racing’s resumptions.
It will be very busy at the county Kilkenny track once racing resumes, with three meeting in a little over a week – Thursday, June 11, Wednesday, June 17, and Friday, June 19.
The beautiful track just outside of Gowran will be one of just nine racecourses selected to host racing. It has been decided that Gowran Park fits the requirements set down by HRI to host racing being centrally located which minimises travel needs and also in terms of the stable capacity at the county Kilkenny track has been deemed sufficient as to allow adequate social distancing.
All the meetings being held in June will be made up of eight-races and HRI chief Brian Kavanagh said every step will be taken to ensure the safety of all the people involved in putting racing back on.
“With the confirmation on Friday of the resumption of racing on June 8, we are now publishing the fixture list and the associated details for the first three weeks of racing.
“We are grateful to everybody for the patience they have shown during this very difficult time and we will provide every opportunity for essential personnel to fully understand and implement the return to racing protocols,” Mr Kavanagh concluded.
