THURLES Racecourse may need to consider installing a watering system if it continues to lose fixtures due to climate change, says track manager Kate Molony.

The Co Tipperary track, which has a reputation for being able to safely stage jump racing when other courses are waterlogged, has had to cancel two recent meetings due to unsuitable ground caused by lack of rainfall.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer says Thurles has had just 20ml of rainfall since September 14th. Leopardstown has had more than 130mls in the same period.

Thurles has been given two replacement dates and is now due to race on three consecutive Thursdays in November but Met Eireann’s long-range forecast suggests Ireland will have “below average” rainfall this month and possibly in December too.

Kate Molony said: “It’s hard to believe, especially when you see the terrible floods in Spain at the moment. Our track looks very well and the ground for our recent flat meeting was very well-received by the jockeys but it is just not suitable for jump racing.”

Thurles is one of the few tracks which does not have a watering system and Molony says installing one – which would be expensive – may have to be considered. “We’re not panicking as at least this has happened at the start of our season rather than at the end, so we have time to stage replacement fixtures,” she said.

Climate change

“But it’s hard not to think this is related to climate change and we have to talk about watering in the future. My concern would be that watering a ‘winter’ track could cause long-term damage. We can race when others cannot, and maybe watering would impact on our ability to take rain when it comes.”

Lorcan Wyer has been clerk of the course at Thurles for 12 years and cannot recall this problem being as severe before now. “In 2018 we had one of the warmest and driest summers on record, so we reintroduced flat racing to Thurles after an 11-year break that autumn. The rain came in time for their second meeting which was a jumps card, but this year that hasn’t happened.”

Wyer says Thurles would have no problem racing on three consecutive Thursdays this month, if the rain arrives in sufficient quantity.

However, Met Eireann’s long-range forecast predicts dry conditions for next week and probably the week after. “High pressure is signalled to remain the dominant feature of our weather during week two [of November], with settled conditions persisting as a result.

“While occasional outbreaks of rain are still possible, overall rainfall amounts are likely to be below average.”

There is more uncertainty around predictions for the second half of the month but Met Eireann says “rainfall is signalled to be near average, or slightly below in the south” and a drier than normal December is also on the cards.