HRI

Racing will take place in Ireland on Good Friday for the first time in 2026, with the Curragh set to stage a fixture on April 3. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) published the new fixture list on Friday with the number of meetings staying the same for the third consecutive year. The Flat season will also see an enhanced programme of Sunday fixtures beginning in May, while there will be seven blank Sundays in total - one more than in 2025. Racing on Good Friday will come from the current allocation...

Thurles Racecourse, which had been due to close this month after owners the Molony family decided to retire from racing, will continue operating until at least March of 2026. There was a productive meeting between the Molony family and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) on Thursday. The only privately owned racecourse in Ireland, Thurles had 11 scheduled fixtures for the 2025/2026 season. A joint-statement from HRI and the Molony family read, "Following a positive meeting this afternoon between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony family, Thurles Race Company will facilitate the...

John Sheridan has been appointed the new general manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced on Monday. Previously part of Vodofone Ireland where he was a commercial lead for the consumer prepay division, Sheridan also worked with Ladbrokes International's Betdaq. Sheridan was most recently the marketing manager of Showjumping Ireland for the last five years. Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses, said, "I am delighted to welcome John Sheridan to the role of general manager at Fairyhouse Racecourse. John joins us at an exciting time for the racecourse...

Henri Pouret has taken over from Brian Kavanagh as the new Chairman of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF). Kavanagh said, "My time as Chairman of EMHF has been very satisfying and stimulating. There are excellent people working in the horse racing sector throughout the region and it has been a privilege to get to know them. The EMHF has a key role to play in the development and advancement of horse racing and I know that, with Henri Pouret coming in as Chairman and Paull Khan continuing as...

Horse Country, Ireland's premier immersive equine tourism experience, was launched at the Punchestown Festival on Wednesday. Supported by Fáilte Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Kildare and Tipperary County Councils, Horse Country offers 15 visitor experiences that immerse guests in the world of Thoroughbred horses, including access to the yards and training operations of Aidan O'Brien (Tipperary), Johnny Murtagh (Kildare) and Jessica Harrington (Kildare). These globally-recognised trainers are opening their yards exclusively to Horse Country visitors, offering behind-the-scenes access and opportunities to see the training regimes and facilities for the equine...

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has upgraded the equipment and technology used to determine the outcome of photo finishes at all 26 racecourses across Ireland. From next week's Punchestown Festival there will be 12 state-of-the-art photo-finish cameras in use along with a number of large 4K ultra high-definition screens, which will be used to evaluate results. Graham Reid, HRI's Technical Operations Supervisor, said, "These new cameras have incredible capabilities, with even greater sensitivity in lower daylight and unbelievable high speed. "With 40,000 frames per second and a pixel density exceeding 5,000...

Additional incentives for owners to accompany the new Irish EBF Academy Hurdles races, were announced by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) on Friday. Running from Sunday, October 12 through the end of December, the races will be sponsored by the Irish European Breeders' Fund and will be open to 3-year-old horses which have not had any previous run under either Rules of Racing or I.N.H.S. Rules other than in Academy Hurdle races. Firstly, an IRE Incentive-style sales voucher will go to the owners of any Irish-bred horse which wins or is...

Vicki Donlon has been appointed interim CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced on Thursday. Donlon rejoins the team at Leopardstown with immediate effect as the process continues to find a permanent replacement for Tim Husbands, who steps down this week after five years in the role. Having joined HRI when appointed commercial & marketing manager at Leopardstown in 2015, Donlon has led the commercial brief for HRI's Racecourse Division for the last four years, working with Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, Navan and Tipperary. Paul Dermody, CEO of HRI Racecourses,...

The Irish EBF Barrier Trials are soon to return with three dates approved from May to August, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced on Wednesday. Naas will again host the first day on Monday, May 26 on the inside track over six and seven furlongs, with Dundalk staging the middle fixture on Monday, July 7. The final date is set for Leopardstown on Wednesday, August 27, again over six and seven furlongs. As in the past, each fixture will be restricted to named and unraced two-year-olds and three-year-olds with stalls certificates....

Have you ever fancied gaining an insight into how trainers like Jessica Harrington or Johnny Murtagh prepare their horses to win big-race riches all over the globe? Or perhaps you'd like to better understand the breeding industries and take a peek behind the scenes at some of the biggest stud farms in Ireland?  The recently-launched Horse Country, which is funded by Failte Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland and the Kildare and Tipperary County Councils, will offer such experiences to interested parties and its CEO Laura Magee spoke of her excitement about...

Connie Costello is the new group chief financial officer of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Peter Roe has been named the head of racing at HRI Racecourses. Costello previously worked at the Central Bank of Ireland, having previously held senior positions in First Active PLC, Ulster Bank, An Post and the Department of Public Expenditure (National Shared Services). HRI CEO Suzanne Eade said, "With a wealth of commercial experience and expertise, Connie is a significant addition to the team at HRI. Her career to date has included high level roles...

Paddy Twomey's squad has been bolstered by the return of one-time leading Derby prospect Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), with the trainer hinting at having assembled his strongest-ever team of horses for the year ahead.  Talented sprinter King Cuan (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) is another older horse who is reported to be back training well while Donagh O'Connor has joined the stable as second jockey behind Billy Lee. However, Twomey admitted to becoming increasingly frustrated by what he describes as 'disgraceful' levels of prize-money in Irish racing, and backed up...