Horse Racing Ireland has announced details of the strict measures that will apply to race meetings in Ireland over the next two weeks.
It follows yesterday’s decision by HRI – aligned with Government instruction to limit external gatherings to less than 500 people – that horseracing will continue but will not be open to the public up until March 29th.
To implement the recommended social distancing measures on track, the following strict measures will be undertaken by all Industry Bodies and Racecourses…

  • Signage recommended by the government must be displayed throughout the racecourse premises in strategic areas (grandstand, weigh room area, changing rooms, press room, stables etc.)
  • Contact details for all racecourse attendees must be recorded on admission
  • Bottles of antibacterial gel solutions/hand sanitising stations to be provided
  • Door handles, handrails of escalators, elevator buttons and any other obvious points of contact to be disinfected regularly during each race meeting
  • Jockeys’ saunas must be closed
  • Additional space between individuals must be provided within the weigh room to ensure social distancing along with additional alternative facilities for jockeys’ changing to ensure best practice hygiene throughout
  • A designated isolation room must be provided at each racecourse (for individual use in the event any person presents with virus symptoms)

Access to the racecourse will be strictly restricted to essential service providers and industry participants and only the following people are permitted to attend race meetings:

  • IHRB Officials/HRI employees working at the race meeting
  • IRIS employees working at the race meeting
  • Order of Malta (as required to service the race meeting)
  • Racecourse employees (as required to service the race meeting)
  • Valets working at the race meeting
  • Racecourse Vets
  • AIR Commentator
  • Stable staff of horses running in the race meeting
  • Jockeys riding in the race meeting
  • One Trainer (or their representative) per horse running on the day
  • One Owner per horse running on the day (if they cannot attend, they will not be allowed to be represented)
  • One racing journalist per newspaper/media organisation
  • One racing photographer per company

In addition, those who are present as above will be asked to leave once their job is done.
There are no catering facilities at any meeting for the next two weeks and nor will there be any betting facilities in operation. Industry betting odds will be produced in consultation with betting providers away from the racecourse.




Image Credit: Sport for Business