RACING:HORSE RACING Ireland (HRI) expressed its confidence in the Government soon presenting legislation about racing's funding when it finally outlined its 2011 fixture list yesterday.
A cut of 10 race meetings for next year means there will be 335 fixtures in 2011 and a return to the traditional Curragh kick-off to the flat season on March 20th.
Dundalk’s all-weather circuit has lost two fixtures, and eight other tracks, including Punchestown, the Curragh and Listowel, have lost a meeting each.
Although there will be 10 fewer meetings, the number of race days in 2011 will be up by three compared to this year, with 267 dates pencilled in. The number of Saturday evening fixtures has been cut by two to five.
“All sectors of the industry have endured severe cuts in recent years and the loss of traditional horse-related employment in rural areas is of particular concern,” said HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh. “For these reasons the reduction in fixtures has been kept at a modest level, reflecting our confidence that the Government’s close engagement on the issue and the broad acceptance of the need for change among bookmakers has opened up a real prospect that a secure future funding basis will be achieved which will allow the industry return to growth.”
A late Easter in 2011 means the Grand National festival at Fairyhouse will be run from April 24th-26th, with the Punchestown Festival pushed back to May 3rd-7th.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be run at the Curragh on June 26th and the Curragh Guineas meeting will take place over May 21st and 22nd.
Little Magic likely for Thornton
THE weather will likely rule out a threat to the record 1994 attendance of almost 11,000 when Laytown’s unique, 142-year- old strand meeting takes place this evening, but it should still be memorable for Andrew Thornton aboard Like Magic.
Better known as a National Hunt rider, Thornton broke his duck on the level when Like Magic won a claimer at Sligo recently.
Pat Martin’s four-year-old lines up in another claimer today and can make the transition from grass to sand.
Mt Weather’s win here a couple of years ago makes him one to consider in the opening sprint handicap, while Quai Du Roi was an easy winner three years ago and comes to the first of the amateur handicaps in form.
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen will hope to hit the Group One mark at the weekend, and while Northern Rocked operates at the other end of the scale, a 79 rating looks appealing in the context of the seven-furlong maiden.
