Northern racing on hold Down Royal chairman Jim Nicholson today claimed that the Ulster racing industry has been effectively closed by the decision of the Northern Ireland Executive to put racing on hold during the month of May. Though racing resumes in the Republic on Easter Monday, the Northern Ireland Executive have produced a shock recommendation that the meetings at Down Royal on May 7th and Downpatrick on May 18th-19th should not go ahead. Nicholson has called for an immediate meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture. He said: 'Unless we can recommence immediately the likely impact will be the loss of some 500-600 full and part-time jobs. 'Northern Ireland is now the only region throughout Great Britain and Ireland that cannot race and yet it has been declared an area clear of foot and mouth.'A spokesman for the North`s Department of Agriculture today confirmed that they had advised Down Royal and Downpatrick to cancel their meetings.'We feel the gathering of people and the movement of animals still represents a risk.' said a spokesperson.Trainers in Northern Ireland are isolated and at present have no options for their horses. They are allowed to travel horses to the South but are not permitted to bring them back into the province - ruling out trips to racemeetings.
