Unexpected Closure Of Thurles Racecourse Under Bright Spotlight.

Depending on Irish weather, some 3,000 racing events are run across Ireland every year.
Irish racing got €76 million in State funding last year, 2024, (€25,333 per each race sponsored by the Irish taxpayer) and in its new strategic plan, it is suggested that Horse Racing Ireland aims to obtain a targeted figure of over €92 million, over the next 3 years, up to end of 2028. Do we know how this money is spent?

Following the unexpected closure of Thurles racecourse, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) has stated that the combination of declining media revenue rights, together with rising business costs, over recent years, is instrumental in the continuing decline of Ireland’s smaller racetracks.

The shock announcement on Friday morning last, by the Molony family, citing the cost of doing business as a major factor in their decision to immediately close Ireland’s sole privately owned racecourse, most certainly caught Horse Racing Ireland (HRI); horse racing punters and local Thurles businesses, completely by surprise.

Local politicians claimed they knew about the families intentions, while local councillors were left speechless.

It is now reckoned that this Thurles racetrack would require a multimillion euro investment, in a effort to comply with new licensing requirements, same demanded by Irish Horse-racing Regulatory Board (IHRB).

Last June, 2025, the HRI and IHRB issued minimum requirements for all racecourses, including provision for watering systems. Thurles racecourse had lost three meetings at the end of last year, due to hard ground conditions and currently does not have the now required track watering system. To install, same we understand would require an investment of at least €300,000, to set this matter to rights.
Same is now essential for all tracks, following the regulatory body’s investigation into the sad death of jockey Mr Michael O’Sullivan, due to injuries sustained in a fall at this Thurles track, last February.

A total redevelopment of the Thurles racecourse facility, which would bring same up to the new required standards, is estimated to cost about €3 million and we understand that under Horse Racing Ireland capital development fund rules, the present owners would have to pay three-fifths of any future cost, amounting to €1,800,000.

This closure highlighted in Thurles has now put the finances of Ireland’s 25 other racecourses under a very bright spotlight, with many tracks watching with worried interest at the results of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) meeting with the Thurles track owners; understood to be happening in the near future.

The Irish Horse racing board (IHRB) rightly claim that their aim is to ensure all racecourses operate to high standards, with the safety and well-being of those participating, a major priority. They confirm that the new racecourse manual, is intended to support racecourses in that same aim over time and is not to impose sudden demands, which in turn creates unsurmountable barriers.