Attendance at this month's Race Festival in Killarney will remain capped at five hundred attendees which organisers have called "unfair and unjust".

Racing will take place at Killarney Racecourse from Thursday,  August 19 to Saturday 21 inclusive, and all tickets are now sold out.

The restrictions are due to the ongoing public health guidelines.

Since racing reconvened in June, over five hundred horse racing fixtures have successfully taken place in Ireland behind closed doors or with limited capacities throughout the pandemic.

In July, Killarney Races saw spectators in their stand for the first time since August 2019 and albeit in limited numbers it instilled some hope for the further easing of restrictions and larger numbers attending their August meetings. Despite lobbying by the industry and the obvious relaxation of restrictions in other sectors and sports, circumstances for the team at Killarney Races have remained unchanged, much to their disappointment.

“Whilst other sports have moved on, horse racing has endured extremely low levels of attendees e.g. All-Ireland Semi-Finals at 24,000 v’s Killarney's July Racing Festival on a 90-acre open site at at five hundred, which is extremely unjust and unfair," Ger Coughlan, Chairman of the Board of Killarney Races said. 

"Of course, we'll put on another great day of racing for those who were fortunate enough to buy their tickets before they sold out. We have a fantastic garden party feel with ample space, lots of outdoor seating and it's looking like the weather is going to play its part again too. That said it is extremely disappointing that more people cannot enjoy it also. Killarney is busy with staycationers, many of whom are fully vaccinated and would love a day out at Killarney Races, they can dine indoors and shop in their droves in town, yet they cannot watch a race here, surely it’s time for common sense to prevail."

RACE CARD

Thursday evening is an all-Flat card while National Hunt cards will feature on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Highlights each day include the prestigious Ruby Stakes on Thursday, a Grade B Handicap Hurdle on Friday and a Graded Chase Saturday. Sponsors include Boylesports, Adare Manor, The Irish Examiner and The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund.

Killarney Races will race again for the final fixture of 2021, on Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3, and tickets for that meeting will be available online soon. Visit killarneyraces.ie and sign up to their newsletter to ensure you're the first to know when the tickets are live and keep up to date with all the news and updates from the racecourse or follow their social media channels today.

Speaking of the likelihood of greater attendances and the easing of restrictions for that weekend, Ger Coughlan added that “Naturally that would be great".

"However, for the team here who have worked very hard to ensure strict adherence to all guidelines to keep the horse racing industry going, it’s very much a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. We are confident that the situation will be much improved for our October race-meeting.”