The Galway Races will go ahead on its original dates this summer, but not as we know it.
The summer showpiece has the green light to go ahead behind-closed-doors and will be subject to rigorous health and safety protocols as horse racing returns on June 8.
The Ballybrit festival will run for seven days, beginning on its originally fixed July 27 date, but with significant changes to the race programme.
The opening two days will only host Flat races, while National Hunt action takes centre stage on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday fixtures will be all National Hunt. The meeting will conclude, in the first two days of August, with two all-Flat cards.
The prestigious Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle will be run as normal on the Wednesday and Thursday.
Jason Morris, HRI's Director of Racing, said: "We recognise that there will be a large demand for opportunities to run and our aim is to provide all Flat horses with their first run as quickly as possible following the resumption of racing by offering a balanced programme across all age groups, distances and categories. There will be 53 flat meetings up to the end of July with this objective in mind.
"There will also be 22 National Hunt fixtures programmed between 22 June and the end of July, compared to the equivalent of 17 meetings in the same period last year, to cater for the demands of the jumps horse population.
"There will be eight-race cards run at every opportunity where stable capacity allows, with the protocols requiring one stable per horse for hygiene reasons.
"The Galway Festival from 27 July to 2 August is being maintained as a seven-day event but there are significant changes to the traditional race programme."
You can view a full list of the confirmed fixtures here.
