AVOIDING any clash with Irish Champions Weekend was good news in 2020 for the Listowel Races organisers, and then their plans for the annual Harvest Festival were impacted by the current Covid-19 pandemic. This week, ahead of the Kerry venue’s seven-day race meeting, I caught up with the racecourse’s secretary/manager Brenda Daly and the committee’s chairman Pat Healy.

What hopes did you have for crowds at the upcoming meeting? “Before racing resumed on June 8th we had an initial visit from HRI and the IHRB to look at how Listowel could adapt to the protocols involved in racing behind closed doors. We were hopeful at that stage that after our three-day June meeting was cancelled, we would be able to race in September. At that stage we felt that by the time September came around there would be a reduction in Covid-19 cases and limited numbers might be able to attend, even up to 5,000 people.

“Then things changed weekly and the stages of recovery were put back a few weeks. Cases were beginning to climb again and there is so much involved in Covid-proofing a racecourse for racing behind closed doors. We realised that it would not be possible to stage racing safely under the Covid-19 protocols unless we made the decision to race behind closed doors. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, for so many reasons, but it was a decision that ultimately had to be made.”

Does racing behind closed doors pose particular problems for you, given that you are one of just two week-long meetings in Ireland?

“The main problem with racing for seven consecutive days is that every area in use, right down to door knobs and levers, will need to be thoroughly washed and disinfected each evening after racing, to make sure no germs are around for the next day’s racing. This is a lot of cleaning, but we are prepared for it and determined to have everywhere in top condition each day.

“Horse Racing Ireland delivered the programme for the seven days. We knew it would be two flat days and five National Hunt, and there were a few amendments to be made, but it all went fairly smoothly.”

Listowel is delighted that almost every sponsor has been loyal and stayed with the track. This is a great vote of confidence during a year when the track’s finance will be severely hit. “Income wise it will be a disaster really; we won’t have any cash admissions, and no catering rental.

“The only thing keeping our head above water will be our media rights and they are down 25%. So it will be a very difficult time ahead financially. The local economy will lose out massively too. People attending the races stay not only in Listowel, but in Tralee, Killarney and Abbeyfeale. So north Kerry and a little bit of Limerick will also be affected.”

The further impact of the financial hit is that any plans for future development or improvements have been put on hold. This year’s meeting will feature some social media interaction. “We have a McElligotts’ Honda Virtual Ladies Day planned on Friday, September 25th. Our local Chamber Alliance is also running a competition for the best races-themed shop front in Listowel for raceweek.”

Both Brenda Daly and Pat Healy were keen to acknowledge the efforts of others. “We would like to say thanks for and acknowledge all the help and support we’ve received from Sharleen O’Reilly in HRI and from Dr Jennifer Pugh and Niall Cronin in IHRB. They’ve all been great, accessible at all times to help us out.”