Navan opens new schooling track

Navan Racecourse officially opened their new schooling track today.

The track, located on the inside of the main track, was opened by Navan Racecourse Chairman, trainer Noel Meade.

With the growing importance of schooling days to the horse racing industry, the opening of the new track is a welcome addition to the facilities at Navan Racecourse.

Navan Racecourse Manager, Peter Killeen, said: “The schooling track is a project we have been working on for quite a while and it’s really great to see it finally come to fruition. Following on from feedback from some of the top local trainers and jockeys we have decided to run the horses right-handed around the inside of our main track giving a lovely gradual testing uphill finish.

“We are running over two distances of a mile and a half and two miles today as it’s our first time schooling on the track but our intention going forward is to accommodate distances between six furlongs and two miles. Hopefully Navan can now play a role in satisfying the growing demand for trainers to school their horses and we will hold schooling days on a regular basis.”

Following the opening, approximately 70 horses used the new track and the feedback was very positive from the riders on board.

Jockey Sean Flanagan commented: “It’s super, it’s the opposite way to the racing line and they have done a super job designing it as it doesn’t go near the main track at any stage. It’s going to be a super facility for trainers to have going forward.”

Noel Meade said: “Today was a great success, the schooling track is something we have been looking forward to opening for some time and we have received great reports from the jockeys.”