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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Horse racing in Northern Ireland planning return

Horse racing is set to resume in Northern Ireland behind closed doors in July.

Downpatrick will return on July 15 with Down Royal's Ulster derby meeting taking place nine days later.

Racing in the Republic of Ireland is set to resume under similar conditions on June 8.

"It's hugely important racing comes back," said Down Royal chief executive Emma Meehan.

"It's a massive industry on the whole of the island."

She added: "We're understand that stakeholders aren't going to travel in the first 30 days after the resumption in the Republic.

"We are grateful to Horse Racing Ireland for positioning us in the calendar from July onwards."

There has been no racing in Northern Ireland since the St Patrick's Day meeting at Down Royal.

Meehan says there will be added coronavirus safety measures in place when racing does return this summer.

"We have a handle on what the expectations are in delivering on that but looking ahead there are more rigorous health screenings to adhere to," she said.

"There will be pre-screen and temperature tests for participants on site and then there will be continuous monitoring of stakeholders and everybody that attends once they are on site."

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