RACING at Wexford on St. Patrick’s Day, traditionally the best meeting of the year for the racecourse, took place behind closed doors with the fear that this could have been the last race meeting in Ireland for the foreseeable future due to the Covid-19 virus.

The murky conditions did nothing to dispel the gloom, just as news of the BHA’s decision to suspend racing in Britain until May was beginning to filter through but, true to form, the racing world here, took a pragmatic approach to the situation and did their best to remain cheerful, despite their concerns.