Shockwaves from Thurles closure are threat to thousands who work in Irish racing

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

What have Rachael Blackmore and AP McCoy got in common? Apart from being trailblazing and record-breaking Grand National and Gold Cup winning Irish born jockeys, they both rode their first winners at Thurles racecourse.
McCoy's came on Lethal Steps for Jim Bolger in 1992 at the age of 17 while the recently retired Blackmore got off the mark in 2011 on Stowaway Pearl for Shark Hanlon. It's a snapshot of just how important and significant the small and rustic Thurles racecourse has been in Irish racing for many years.
The breaking news on Friday morning that the popular track in the Tippearary town is to close its doors with immediate effect has sent shockwaves through the sport of horse racing in Ireland. It's a venue held fondly by so many people.
While glamorous venues like the Curragh, Punchestown and Leopardstown are regularly seen hosting Grade 1 and Group 1 action on television, rural racecourses like Thurles are at the centre at the grassroots of Irish racing.
Losing a venue like Thurles is a big blow. They raced 10 times a year and long before Dundalk's polytrack surface was in place it was considered Ireland's first all-weather racecourse because of the ground's ability to take rain.
Ironically that has also led to problems in recent times, dryer winters and lack of a watering system has meant that several meetings have had to be cancelled because of ground too firm for jumping.
A day's racing in Thurles was all about the horses and the people taking part. There were no corporate boxes or champagne tents at Thurles, it was the salt of the earth. Thurles on a Thursday is synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing.
In recent times top class horses like Don Cossack, Sizing John, Honeysuckle and Allaho all won there before big wins at Cheltenham. It'll be badly missed. Bryan Cooper after winning the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles on Don Cossack (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Sadly the track and the Molony family, that privately managed and owned it, endured their darkest day earlier this year when jockey Michael O'Sullivan sadly died from injuries sustained in a fall at their fixture on February 6th.
It was a devastating time for everyone in Irish racing but it shook the Thurles family hard and they rightly cancelled the next meeting due to take place as a mark of respect.
Thurles is now the first racecourse in Ireland to close its doors since 2008 when Tralee was sold for development and these are worrying times for the sport.
The Molony family's decision to retire is perhaps an indication of the sign of the times and just how difficult and stressful it is running an entertainment business at present in Ireland.
Costs are spiralling out of control, people have less money in their pockets and the demands on staff are very tough. Thurles had their licence to race for 2025/26 season but they just didn't have the appetite to go on.
In their statement on Friday morning they cited the 'ever-increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business' as being a major factor in their decision.
The massive concern now for Irish racing is could this be a catalyst for more closures.
The State run Horse Racing Ireland owns and operates Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary Racecourses.
But other smaller venues are Limited companies or venues run by various bodies and boards and the reliance on money from the media rights is keeping the show on the road in the main.
The shortage of land for badly-needed housing has also made racecourses attractive sites for development. Only this year it was announced that 800 new homes will be built on a site at Leopardstown racecourse – although the action on the track won't be affected.
All in all, it makes for potential choppy waters for the sport and the many thousands who work in the racing industry.