A LITTLE bit of racing history will be made at Tipperary on Sunday when a new plastic ‘traditional-style’ hurdle will be used in a race for the first time.

Made by Easyfix, the hurdles are being trialled at 12 fixtures this autumn ahead of a planned move away from birch hurdles for 2025. Supporters of the new obstacles say they are safer for horses, enviromentally friendly and ultimately less expensive to maintain for racecourses.

The plastic hurdles will be used for three races at Tipperary on Sunday and six races at Fairyhouse on Monday. They will be in use again at Fairyhouse next Saturday.

Birch hurdles have served Irish racing well for decades but they can cause an injury if a horse manages to put a foot through the bars holding the birch in place. Racecourses also spend a considerable sum replacing sections of birch hurdles which damage easily.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has committed to replacing all birch hurdles next year and a number of alternative products are under consideration.

A spokesperson for the IHRB said: “As part of our relentless focus on safety and welfare and ahead of the move to white non-birch hurdles on Irish racecourses in 2025, the IHRB are permitting these hurdles to be trialled at four racecourses over 12 fixtures this autumn to assess their performance in racing conditions.”