Racing: Horse Racing Ireland confirmed yesterday the beleaguered Tralee track will retain seven meetings when the 2004 fixture list is released at the end of the month.
That total equals this year's but will do little to guarantee the long-term future of the racecourse following the directors' recent vote to halt racing after next month's Rose of Tralee festival.
The move has galvanised support in Kerry and the Ballybeggan Racecourse Supporters Club is fighting to retain racing on the 100-acre site which could be rezoned for building by Kerry County Council.
Yesterday HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: "We would like to see Tralee stay in business but every track has to manage their affairs successfully. The situation at the moment is that Tralee have applied for fixtures for next year and have been granted them."
Shareholders at Tralee are expected to vote soon on selling the site which is on the outskirts of the town. However a decision on rezoning by the county council could be critical to future plans.
