Ballinrobe races cancellation a blow

Ballinrobe Races hit by opening day cancellation

Ciara Galvin

THE weather gods frowned on Ballinrobe last Tuesday resulting in the first race fixture at Ballinrobe Racecourse for 2015 having to be cancelled.
For racecourse manager John Flannelly it was a decision that had to be made early following 30 millimetres of rain overnight.
“With the amount of rain it made on Monday and when it was made, we had to make the decision. We needed to think about the racing industry, trainers and jockeys leave their yards early and we needed to notify the catering industry. It could cost people an awful lot of money,” said Mr Flannelly.
Following the cancellation of the fixture, Horse Racing Ireland subsequently announced that a replacement National Hunt meeting would take place at Limerick today (Tuesday).
Asked if taking the subsequent racing fixture offered to the Limerick track, Flannelly said it was discussed, but that the committee had to keep in mind the two-day fixtures at the end of the month.
“You have a month in which you can get another race meeting, but with the two day fixture on at the end of the month, squeezing in another meeting wasn’t an option,” he said.
Local businesses banking on a boost in sales in the town from the first race meeting of the year must now wait until the two-day racing fixture on May 25 and 26.
The racecourse manager is positive ahead of these meetings and said weather should not be a major factor going on past instances.
“We haven’t lost a meeting in a long time up until now, and even with the horrendous weather of 2012 we got through the nine race fixtures. With the rain that was made on Monday morning there was nothing we could do,” he concluded.