2011 Fixture list sees 10 meetings cut

The 2011 Fixture List released today by Horse Racing Ireland see a loss of 10 fixtures for next year but an increase in race days from 264 to 267.

The key points in relation to the 2011 Fixture List as outlined by HRI are as follows:-

§ The total number of fixtures has been reduced by 10 from 345 to 335.

§ The Flat season will start at the Curragh on Sunday 20th March and end at Dundalk on Friday 16th December.

§ The Fairyhouse Easter Festival will be run from 24th – 26th April, and due to the late date of Easter, the Punchestown Festival will be run from 3rd – 7th May and the Killarney Spring Festival from 15th – 17th May.

§ The number of racing days has increased from 264 to 267.

Given the falling horse population (down 13% at the end of August) and the reduced levels of entries and runners (down 22% and 5% respectively for the first eight months), for the second year a reduction in the total number of fixtures has been approved by the HRI Board.

Racecourses to lose fixtures are Cork, the Curragh, Dundalk (2), Fairyhouse, Limerick, Listowel, Punchestown, Sligo and Tipperary.

Flat – The Flat season will now revert to starting with the traditional opening meeting of the season at the Curragh on Sunday 20th March and its conclusion has been extended by one week to Friday evening 16th December at Dundalk.

National Hunt – The Punchestown Festival will have a later date than normal (3rd – 7th May) in 2011 due to the late date of Easter, with the result that the 2010/11 National Hunt season will end on Saturday 7th May.

The total number of Saturday evenings has been reduced from the seven staged in 2010.

The two fixtures affected are at Kilbeggan in late April and at Dundalk in early November, both of which have moved a day earlier to Friday evenings.

The schedule of Saturday evenings for 2011 is shown below:

May 14th Kilbeggan

June 11th Limerick

July 2nd Bellewstown

August 6th Kilbeggan

August 13th Tramore

The number of calendar days with no racing has been reduced from 101 to 98.This means that there will be three more days with Irish racing in 2011 compared with 2010, which will benefit off-course betting turnover, while the reduction in clashing fixtures will also produce reduced costs for the industry.

Commenting on the 2011 Fixture List, Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of HRI, said: “HRI has adopted a prudent course of action in agreeing the 2011 fixture list, faced with a 13% drop in the number of horses in training and the need to maintain the vitality of the racecourse sector.

“Irish racecourses have fought successfully to attract and hold race-goers in a declining leisure market and, so far this year, have kept attendance levels ahead of the same period last year. All sectors of the industry have endured severe cuts in recent years and the loss of traditional horse-related employment in rural areas is of particular concern.

“For these reasons the reduction in fixtures has been kept at a modest level, reflecting our confidence that the Government’s close engagement on the issue and the broad acceptance of the need for change among bookmakers has opened up a real prospect that a secure future funding basis will be achieved which will allow the industry to return to growth”.

2011 Major Racing Festivals

Cork Easter Festival - 23rd to 25th April

Fairyhouse Easter Festival - 24th to 26th April

Punchestown NH Festival - 3rd to 7th May

Killarney Spring Festival - 15th to 17th May

Curragh Guineas Festival - 21st & 22nd May

Curragh Derby Festival - 24th to 26th June

Bellewstown July Festival - 1st to 3rd July

Killarney July Festival - 11th to 14th July

Galway - 25th to 31st July

Tramore - 11th to 14th August

Killarney August Festival - 23rd to 26th August

Galway Autumn Festival - 27th to 29th August

Curragh Leger Festival - 10th & 11th September

Listowel Harvest Festival - 11th to 17th September

Down Royal Festival - 4th to 5th November

Punchestown Winter Festival - 19th & 20th November

Fairyhouse Winter Festival - 3rd & 4th December

Leopardstown Christmas Festival - 26th to 29th December

Limerick Christmas Festival - 26th to 29th December

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Major Flat Races for 2011

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Major NH Races for 2011