Note Navan change HRI Amends Navan Race Times on Saturday 31st March to Allow Betting Shops To Stay Open for Dubai World Cup Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) today announced an amendment to the race times for the afternoon fixture at Navan racecourse this Saturday 31st March. The meeting which was originally scheduled to start at 2.00pm will now commence at 2.35pm with eight races (the 2½ mile thetote.com Handicap Hurdle will be divided) and the last race at 6.30pm. HRI sanctioned this change in race times at Navan following a request from the Irish off-course betting industry. At present Irish betting shops are prohibited from opening after 6.30pm from September to March unless an Irish race is scheduled on or after 6.30pm. This move will therefore mean that the Irish betting shops can stay open this Saturday beyond 6.30pm and show the Dubai World Cup at 6.40pm, the world’s richest horse race, in which Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien runs favourite So You Think. Announcing the race times change for Navan, HRI Director of Racing, Jason Morris said: “HRI is pleased to have been able to assist the Irish off-course betting industry in allowing betting shop customers to watch the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup, on Saturday. HRI is very grateful for the co-operation received from Navan racecourse and SIS in facilitating this change of times for Navan on Saturday, with the last race now to be run at 6.30pm shortly before the off of the Dubai World Cup. HRI is supportive of the Irish off-course betting industry’s desire to allow all year opening of betting shops in the evenings.”
