The August festival of racing at Tramore will not be open to the general public this year.
The decision to limit attendance to 500 was taken in accordance with government guidelines.
The General Manager of Tramore racecourse Owen Byrne says they are very disappointed:
"Tickets will not be going on sale for the August festival this year. Our crowds are limited to 500, which only allows us to have our owners, annual members and shareholders really, we just don't have the capacity in terms of the government guidelines to have any more coming"
The festival is due to take place from the 12th to the 14th of August.
The annual event is the highlight of the summer for many racing fans, but also attracts a wider audience every year with a popular 'best dressed' day and family fun element.
Owen says they have been receiving lots of calls from people enquiring about the festival "because people come for the break for the few days'.
Owen says not only is it disappointing for the racecourse to not permit paying punters, it's a blow to the wider economy of Tramore, particularly the bars, restaurants and hotels which get a boost from the festival.
Unfortunatlety due to current government restrictions we will not be able to welcome back members of the public to this years festival. @TheIrishField @RacingPost @wlrfm @beat102103 @munsterexpress @WaterfordNS @DungarvanLeader @DungarvanObserv @waterfordtoday @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/q97kTr1oqF
— Tramore Racecourse (@TramoreRaces) July 15, 2021
The decision comes as it's been confirmed that the Galway festival will be limited to a crowd of 1,000 spectators a day. The track had hoped to welcome up to 5,000 racegoers on each day of the week-long event from Monday 26 July to Sunday 1 August.
Today it was also confirmed that the attendance for Saturday's All Ireland hurling qualifier between Waterford and Laois at Nowlan Park has been increased to 3,500.
It had been indicated on Wednesday afternoon that only 500 fans would be allowed to attend.
However, Owen says the difference between GAA matches and racing, eventhough both are outdoors, is the length of time that people would be at the venue, moving freely around and with alcohol available.
He says they haven't had paying customers in 18 months, which is difficult financially "but it's government guidelines we have to follow them, every business is affected in some way and we're no different to that".
