First Sunday Meeting in North Horse Racing Ireland has announced that the Downpatrick Meeting which was due to be held on Wednesday 24th March, 2004 will now be held on Sunday, 21st March, 2004. This will be the first ever Sunday race meeting to be staged in Northern Ireland. HRI sanctioned the fixture transfer following confirmation that the necessary legislation to allow Sunday racing with on-course betting has been approved by the British Government and will come into effect from 26th February. HRI Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh, commented:“Sunday racing has been very successful in the Republic since its introduction in 1985. HRI is pleased that it is now able to sanction the first ever Sunday meeting with betting to be held in Northern Ireland through the transfer of the Downpatrick fixture to Sunday 21st March. A second Sunday meeting will also be held in the North at Down Royal on Sunday 12th September, 2004.”
