RACING: Horse Racing Ireland has confirmed the number of Saturday evening fixtures will double next year. The 2004 fixture list was revealed yesterday and the same total of 304 race meetings have been scheduled as this year. Brian O'Connor reports.
They include seven dates for Tralee, which has been threatened with closure in recent months, and an extra five jump fixtures in January and February.
The Saturday evening dates, which have been unpopular in some sections of the sport, have been increased to eight, to be run on five different dates.
The new Saturday evening fixtures are Kilbeggan on May 8th, Cork (June 12th) and a double fixture on May 29th at Limerick and Wexford.
The HRI Director of Racing, Jason Morris, said: "Our aim is to continue putting on racing at the times and places where racegoers are most likely to attend and enjoy." Another feature is the new three week break between the Derby (June 27th) and the Oaks (July 18th).
