Sport « Thurles Information

Hope For Continued Horse Racing At Thurles, Co. Tipperary Following Positive Discussions.

As yet, unnamed and undecided individuals are understood to have expressed a keen interest in taking a lease on the Thurles racetrack.

The future of racing at Thurles Racecourse remains hopeful following a “positive” meeting between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR), and members representing the current owners.

The Molony family recently announced that they were stepping back after more than a century of running the Thurles, Co. Tipperary venue, raising fears it could close altogether.
However, the family has left the door open for new investors or managers to take over the complex.

We understand that Thurles still has six fixtures scheduled for the current year and has been allocated 11 dates pencilled into the draft 2026 fixture list, thus showing confidence that racing can and will continue.
AIR chief executive Mr Paul Hensey said he was “hopeful” of an agreement, noting the track’s importance for winter National Hunt racing.

The Molony family’s surprise decision was linked to several factors including retirement plans, the rising cost of doing business, and the impact of recent tragedies in the racing community.

A former racecourse manager Mr Angus Houston has urged authorities to ensure the Thurles track remains open, calling it “too important to lose” and suggesting the situation could be an opportunity to strengthen support across all other Irish horse racing tracks.

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.

End Of An Era For Ireland’s Only Privately Owned Racecourse At Thurles.

In a press release published on their website this morning (https://thurlesraces.ie/theendofaneraforthurlesracecourse/), Thurles Racecourse is to close with immediate effect.

The first recorded race meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of three generations of the Molony family since the early 1900s..

The Press Release states:

The end of an era for Thurles Racecourse,
Thurles Racecourse, Ireland’s only privately owned racecourse, has closed with immediate effect. Today, (Friday 01 August) Mrs Riona Molony officially announced the family’s decision to retire from racing at the Tipperary track.

“An iconic venue steeped in history and tradition; Thurles Racecourse has long been a cornerstone of National Hunt Racing in Ireland. The first ever recorded race-meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900’s. Riona’s late husband Pierce took over from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, and together with their family they have worked hard at the business for the last 50 years.

As the Molony family prepare to embark on their next chapter, Riona expressed sincere gratitude for the support of their “extended racecourse family”; the staff, sponsors, racing community, local businesses, and the many racegoers who have contributed to the rich legacy of Thurles Racecourse.

Riona commented “It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. Horse-racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.”

She continued, “Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we’ve managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor.”

Although, Thurles Racecourse is fully licenced to race until December 31st and has 11 prominent fixtures in the 2025/26 racing calendar, the Molony Family will not race again. Riona commented, “We’re going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.”

The racecourse hit the headlines earlier this year when, sadly, 24 year old Irish jockey Mr Michael O’Sullivan, died from catastrophic head injuries sustained in a fall during a race meeting at the venue.

So, what now for Thurles Racecourse, will same now be sold as a building site or will Horse Racing Ireland step in to restore harmony and continue with long held relationships?

Death Announced Of Respected Tipperary Racing Giant Edward O’Grady.

It was with sadness we learned of the death, at the age of 75, of Mr Edward O’Grady, Killeens, Ballynonty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, one of the giants of Irish National Hunt racing.

This morning, (July 28th), his family announced; “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward O’Grady, who passed away peacefully yesterday evening at St James’s Hospital, surrounded by his family”.

Mr O’Grady took over his father Willie’s training licence in 1972 and celebrated his first winner with ‘Vibrax’, latter ridden by Timmy Hyde, at Gowran Park on January 27th, 1972.
His father had purchased the yard at Ballynonty, County Tipperary in 1947.

Mr O’Grady was one of Ireland’s most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival, with some 18 winners to his name. He was champion jumps trainer in Ireland for four consecutive seasons between the years 1977 and 1980, and also in the mid-1990s with horses like ‘Sound Man’ and ‘Ventana Canyon’.

During his lifetime he was associated with such significant horses as ‘Golden Cygnet’ (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1978), ‘Sound Man’, ‘Time For A Run’, ‘Bit Of A Skite’ (Irish Grand National winner 1983), ‘Drumlargan’ (Whitbread Gold Cup winner 1983), ‘Mister Donovan’, ‘Sky’s The Limit’, ‘Prolan’, ‘Mucklemeg’, ‘Pizzaro’, ‘Flame Gun’, ‘Jack Of Trumps’, ‘Mr Midland’, ‘Loving Around’, ‘Staplestown’, ‘Back In Front’, ‘Ned Kelly’(winning 12 of his 27 races), ‘Grey Goddess’, ‘Rusty Tears’, ‘Mountrivers’, ‘Northern Game’, ‘Ventana Canyon’, ‘Sacundai’, ‘Hindhope’, ‘Hard Tarquin’ and ‘Cash & Go’ (Champions Novice Hurdle, 2011).

Mr O’Grady was closely connected with the emergence of Mr JP McManus as a leading owner, with both teaming up with ‘Shining Flame’, in 1978, to win the Galway Plate, together with other numerous big-race winners.

Mr O’Grady is predeceased by his second wife, Maria, their daughters Mimi and Rosie Mae, as well as his older children, Jonathan, Amber and Lucy.

Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

Home Are The Heroes – Part 2.

Rain did not dampen the party in Semple’s Field in Thurles Co. Tipperary on Monday last as queues formed at the main entrances from 4:30pm, with Tipperary band Seskin Lane taking to the stage to begin the promised concert, which also featured Callini Lua, Acquiesce, Una Healy and The 2 Johnnies all topping the bill.

Things could only get better through the afternoon as Thurles native; professional singer/songwriter and TV star, the talented Ms Una Healy (Former member of the five-piece girl group The Saturdays) took to her guitar with, appropriately, Amy McDonald’s “This is the Life”, before ending with Guns N’ Roses ballad, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.

Sadly two metal bars, crossing the front of the erected stage, prevented the gathered 45,000 spectators from gaining a clear vision of those performing.
Perhaps for next year’s celebrations, and yes, I prophesize, there will be a next year for these All-Ireland Champions, this small oversight can be corrected.