Horse racing returns in Ireland on Monday at Naas racecourse with officials confident they will provide a safe spectacle and comfortable in being first up for a new environment for the sport.
It has been 76 days the last card in Ireland – behind closed doors in Clonmel – and even stronger measurements have been brought in ahead of the resumption of the racing calendar.
Health assessments have already taken place online, the minimum possible number of stakeholders will be at the track and distancing measures have been inputted throughout.
Guidance has been put in the parade ring, trainers' chats with jockeys will be limited and even a restaurant will be used as an additional space for the riders.
Naas Racecourse general manager Eamonn McEvoy said it will be like an airport operation.
Naas have the advantage of already holding a fixture with similar guidelines.
McEvoy added: "There’ll be one point of entry for everybody that is going to attend, from the stewards to the clerk of the course, officials. Everyone has to enter and pass a health screening check at the one point. You must do the health screening online 48 hours in advance.
"For example race course staff when they come with their horses, they must come first and pass a test, get their wristband and then go get their horse and bring it to their stable. If you don’t do the health screening, you don’t get in. It is rigid but we understand it has to be.
"The trainer’s can bring a groom for the horse the owners can’t come unfortunately. We have to do this as safe as possible and the owners have been very understanding. They’ll be watching at home on television I’m sure. The IRHB staff will be here, the security staff, HRI staff and the racecourse staff with trainers and stable staff. It is the minimum."
Naas racecourse are ensuring that all the protocols are in place as horseracing in Ireland returns after an absence of 76 days #rteracing #rtenews pic.twitter.com/3swxe8GUbT
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 7, 2020
With no spectators, there is only need for catering for those involved in racing – but even that is curtailed.
Jockeys will be using the cars in between races or the larger buildings on the course to stay isolated.
McEvoy explains: "We have no catering, we literally only provided bottle water as per protocols. We would normally have a groom’s canteen. We’ll be going back to our grandparents days of bringing the flask and sandwiches.
"Jockeys will come out, hand their saddle to the trainer and then they must leave the weigh room. We have a jockey overflow room in the panoramic restaurant where they can go if they aren’t riding in couple of races. Jockeys are also allowed bring their car and encouraged to stay in their car when they can. "
McEvoy believes it is important that racing is back on the agenda for the financial benefit to the economy, even without an audience, and meetings such as Monday – which will include some very promising juveniles – could lead to small breeders and trainers making up to six figures from the performances.
"We should race because we can do it safely. If you look at the size of Naas we can easily spread people out.
"It will be stricter. On 23 March as a country we were only becoming really aware of social distancing. Now everyone is aware of it.
"People have learned to do it and live with it. Unfortunately, the virus is here and as a country we have to live with it. At the end of the day our economy has to get going in every sector.
"We’re going to be in the spotlight because we’re the first one back. We don’t mind that. We feel we’ll do it well. We did one already and the feedback was good. Protocols have upped.
"IRHB and HRI have been brilliant. They’ve done videos to show everyone what it will be like when they come. Everyone in the industry needs to thank them a lot. Without them we wouldn’t be going again."
