Turf Club To Hold Trial Raceday At Dundalk

Trial Day at Dundalk Racecourse
Tuesday 14th August 2007

In preparation for the opening of Ireland’s first All Weather Track at Dundalk Racecourse on Sunday August 26th 2007, the Turf Club Licensing Committee has decided to stage four Trial Races over different distances on Tuesday August 14th 2007. These ‘Trial Races’ will  take place under simulated raceday conditions with a full team of Racing Officials, Stewards, Veterinary Officers, Integrity Camera Operators, Stalls Handlers, Medical Personnel, Stable Yard Security in attendance.

There will be no prize money or costs to enter or run.
 
Nominations of both Horses and Riders to participate in these trial races will be accepted by Horse Racing Ireland. Entries will close at 12 noon on Friday 10th August, with declarations of horses by 10am and riders by 12.30pm on Monday 13th August.

Details of the conditions of each trial will be published in the Racing Calendar of 2nd August and be made available on the HRI website (http://info.hri-racing) and the Minitel system. Trial races will be staged over the following distances: 5 furlongs, 6 furlongs, 8 furlongs and 10½ furlongs. All races will be started from stalls and the first race will be staged at 12.30pm with 30 minute intervals between the trial races.
Trainers should have their horses in the stable yard by 11.30am and passports will be required for each horse as identification checks will be carried out.
Trainers with horses participating on the day will be expected to pay their own transport costs.

A maximum of 14 horses (with three reserves) will be permitted for each trial. Should the number of declared horses exceed the maximum number permitted to run; a draw will be held to allow as many different trainers as possible the opportunity to participate in the races. However, it has been decided that the general rule of only one horse per trainer will apply to each trial.

All riders will be ‘weighed out’ and ‘weighed in’ and must wear approved safety equipment and racing colours.  

A horse which participates in any of these trial races shall not, on that account, incur any penalty or be debarred from claiming any allowance or from taking part in any race. The trial races will not be recorded in the form book as official races.

Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club commenting on the trial day said  “The Trial Day will provide an excellent opportunity to stage races under trial conditions and to give everyone a chance to familiarise themselves with the new facilities in advance of the official opening on Sunday 26th August 2007”.

For further information contact: Seamus Gibson at the Office of the Governing Bodies, Curragh, Co. Kildare. Phone 045 445600.

Date issued 24th July 2007.