Irish racecourses will open their doors from Monday to 50 per cent of outdoor capacity for upcoming meetings following the Government’s latest Covid-19 response roadmap.
They will also be permitted to use 60 per cent of their indoor capacity for hospitality purposes should attendees consuming food and beverages indoors provide evidence of their Digital Covid Vaccine Cert (DCC).
Both figures will rise to 100% if, as planned, all restrictions are lifted on October 22.
The timing is excellent running into the Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh. Only a small number of racegoers have been able to attend race meetings in any capacity since March of 2020.
Tickets will go on sale today, Friday, September 3, to members of the public who have registered their interest for the Champions Weekend in advance, with the remainder of tickets going on general sale on Monday.
Leopardstown’s capacity for Saturday week’s meeting is 4,000, and it will be a mixed outdoor event with access to the indoor spaces, but with proof of a vaccine required for those consuming food and beverage indoors.
“It is great news, and I can’t tell you how happy and relieved the whole Leopardstown team is to be finally selling tickets and getting ready to welcome people back racing,” said CEO Tim Husbands.
“We’ve been working hard for quite some time on making the racecourse a safe and pleasurable place for people to enjoy comfortably in these unique times.”
“Those who haven’t been to Leopardstown since the Dublin Racing Festival in February 2020, will see a vastly different enclosure, one that we have invested heavily in to improve the customer experience. It makes it all the more special that we’re hosting people on one of the best day’s racing in Europe, featuring of course a fascinating Irish Champion Stakes.”
The Curragh’s capacity for Sunday week’s meeting is also 4,000 and it will be a mixed outdoor event with access to the indoor spaces, subject to the same Vaccine Certificate requirement.
Evan Arkwright, the interim Chief Executive at the racecourse said “We were thrilled to hear the positive news earlier this week which will now allow us to welcome back a significant number of attendees for Longines Irish Champions Weekend.”
“The whole team at the Curragh is really looking forward to creating the best possible race day experience for what promises to be a magnificent weekend which will showcase the best of Irish Flat racing to a huge global audience.”
Listowel’s Harvest Festival will be allowed 2,000 per day for the six-day meeting starting the following week.
“It has been a very difficult 18 months for everybody in society, and racing can be proud of the way it has come through it,” said Horse racing Ireland CEO Brian Kavanagh.
“However, without racegoers, racing has been missing one of its essential ingredients.”
“Like many industries, there is still much work to do, but there is now real progress and forward steps to normality. Welcoming back racegoers in measured but increasing numbers is one of those steps.”
“I would like to thank all our customers for their patience and look forward to race meetings becoming just that again – a place where racegoers can meet each other in a safe environment and enjoy our great sport.”
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