HRI Release 2007 Fixture List

The racing fixtures for 2007 were released today (Tuesday 1st August) by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the National Authority for Racing.

The key points in relation to the 2007 Fixture List are:

1. Total Number of Fixtures

The total number of fixtures increases by 14 to 328 as follows:

? Permanent turf fixtures have increased by 2 to 316.

? Ballinrobe gains a new fixture on 24th September.

? Sligo gains a new fixture on 3rd October

? 12 new all-weather fixtures for Dundalk

2. Dundalk

Ireland's first all-weather racecourse at Dundalk Stadium has been allocated twelve fixtures. The opening fixture will be on the afternoon of Sunday 26th August, and the first evening meeting comes a month later on Thursday 27th September. There will then be two runs of five consecutive Friday evening meetings: from 28th September to 26th October and from 9th November to 7th December (outside the turf season). The one-week gap avoids a clash with the Down Royal Festival on Friday 2nd November.

3. Flat/National Hunt Mix

Flat races increase to 913, up by 65, and National Hunt races increase to 1412, up by 32.

4. Increase in National Hunt Season break and Summer months blank days

The break in the National Hunt season, first introduced in 2006, has been increased from 8 to 10 days (from Tuesday 26th June to Thursday 5th July) which is probably the maximum break achievable for the foreseeable future.

In addition, the number of blank days in the summer months has been increased from 12 to 13.

5. Hennessy Day

The most important single change of date relating to the 2007 Fixture List is the move of Hennessy Day at Leopardstown from Sunday 11th February to the previous day, Saturday 10th February. This change is for one year only, to avoid a clash with the Ireland vs France Rugby international in Croke Park. Leopardstown and the principal sponsors Hennessy both want to avoid a direct clash and will promote the day as part of a premier sporting week-end.

6. Festivals

The dates of the major racing festivals for 2007 will be:

Cork Easter Festival 7th ? 9th April

Fairyhouse Easter Festival 8th ? 10th April

Punchestown NH Festival 24th ? 27th April

Killarney Spring Festival 13th ? 15th May

Curragh Derby Festival 29th June ? 1st July

Bellewstown 5th ? 7th July

Killarney July Festival 16th ? 19th July

Galway 30th July ? 5th August

Tramore 16th ? 19th August

Tralee 21st August ? 25th September

Galway 9th ? 11th September

Listowel 16th ? 22nd September

Leopardstown 26th ? 29th December

Limerick 26th ? 29th December

7. Saturday Evenings

There are 10 Saturday evenings scheduled for 2007, the same number as in 2006 although with two venue changes. The Punchestown (May 20th '06) meeting which was not a success, has been relinquished and will be taken up by Kilbeggan on the 19th May in 2007. Leopardstown have agreed to a direct switch in early July with Bellewstown, whereby Leopardstown will move what was previously their Football Furlong fixture to the Wednesday and Bellewstown's three-day Festival will now run from Thursday evening to Saturday evening.

Saturday evening race dates 2006

May 5th Kilbeggan (NH)

May 19th Kilbeggan (NH)

June 2nd Kilbeggan (NH)

June 9th Curragh (Flat)

June 16th Limerick (NH)

July 7th Bellewstown (Mixed)

July 21st Tipperary (Mixed)

July 28th Leopardstown (Flat)

August 11th Kilbeggan (NH)

August 18th Tramore (Mixed)

8. Leopardstown - Wednesday Evenings

The successful Wednesday evening meetings at Leopardstown have been increased by one and Leopardstown will now race on six Wednesday evenings in the summer between 30th May and 18th July.

9. Bellewstown Festival

The Bellewstown Festival will run from Thursday 5th July to Saturday 7th July (evening).

10. Curragh St. Leger Festival

The Curragh St. Leger / National Stakes Festival will now be a three day meeting running from Friday 14th September to Sunday 16th September.

Commenting on the 2007 Fixture List, Jason Morris, HRI's Director of Racing said: 'Horse Racing Ireland's aim is to put on racing at times and places which will best suit racegoers and thereby grow attendances, whilst also satisfying as far as possible the needs of Ireland's growing horse population. The opening of Dundalk's new all-weather facility will be a major development in Irish racing providing new opportunities for owners and trainers and an exciting new experience for racegoers''