Irish jumps racing received a boost on Thursday as Thurles racecourse, which had been set to close after an announcement by owners the Molony family, is set to be taken over by Horse Racing Ireland. This will ensure racing at the venue continues until at least March 2026.
In a brief press release, the HRI announced that “operational responsibility” for horse racing meetings would be their responsibility and ensures that meetings scheduled for this jumps season at Thurles can now be fulfilled. They include the first card scheduled for October 9th, while ten more will now be able to take place in the upcoming months.
Horse Racing Ireland operate an arm branded as HRI Racecourses Ltd, which currently manage operations for Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary, with Thurles becoming the fifth. It is unclear whether the new arrangement will extend beyond schedule, but races such as the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase will now continue as they appear on the calendar. The HRI statement further outlined that the extended deadline for a potential closure “afford all interested parties time to consider a longer-term plan for the course.”