A REAL good news story for harness racing broke on Tuesday evening past, with official confirmation that years of lobbying has borne fruit for the Irish Harness Racing Association.

The Department of Sport and Tourism have allocated a grant of €347,000 towards the transformation of the existing grass track at Lyre to a hard track with facilities.

“When I became chairman some 10 years ago, I identified a hard track in Cork as a priority,” said IHRA chairman Mark Flanagan during the week. “This funding is because we have been granted regional status as a governing body for our sport, just like the FAI or GAA.

“This will be huge boost to harness racing in Cork and nationally. We aim to turn the sod before Christmas and to open in 2025.

“We thank Minister Thomas Byrne and his colleagues. Huge thanks go to my fellow committee members, without singling anyone out for mention. The North Cork TD Christopher O’Sullivan was a huge support to our application.”

Tote progressing

Mark Flanagan confirmed that the work, discussed in the Oireachtas earlier this year, towards obtaining a Tote Licence for harness racing is still progressing. The IHRA have also several international media/betting platforms interested in ‘taking’ a live feed from Irish harness racing.

Christopher O’Sullivan, Fianna Fail TD said: “Harness racing is part of the fabric of West Cork, indeed my own family has been involved for decades. I am delighted to see the IHRA obtain this backing, which will make a huge difference to the sport across the country.”

In the past three seasons, there has been a steady stream of young pacers bred in this country doing well in America. The breeding and export of Standardbreds and Trotteurs Français can become a successful industry and the new track will only help the overall picture.

Lyre, West Cork, home of the Red John Memorial harness race meeting \ Andy Gibson.