HRI Steps in to Save Thurles Racecourse

Horses Racing on Turf Toward Low Sun

The 1st of August brought one of the more surprising and disappointing racing stories of 2025, with the shock announcement that Thurles Racecourse would close with immediate effect. Lovingly cared for by the Molony family for more than 120 years, the loss of Ireland’s only remaining privately owned racecourse represented a significant loss to the industry.

The news sparked appeals from punters, trainers, and politicians that everything possible must be done to keep Thurles up and running. Happily, those pleas were listened to. On Thursday afternoon, news broke that Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) had stepped in to save the County Tipperary track from closure, at least for now.

Second Meeting Brings Resolution

When reluctantly revealing that her family was unable to continue running operations at Thurles, Riona Molony suggested that financial strain and increasing industry demands played a significant role in the decision. Hit by fixture losses during the harsh winter period, the cost of installing irrigation systems to avoid a repeat was deemed prohibitive. When family demands outside of racing were added to the mix, it was easy to understand Molony’s position.

At the time of the announcement, HRI chief executive Suzanne Eade declared that she would be seeking a meeting with the Molony family to discuss their position. The second of those meetings took place at the Curragh on Thursday, 28 August, and yielded positive results.

In the aftermath of the latest meeting, a joint statement read:

“Following a positive meeting this afternoon between Horse Racing Ireland and the Molony family, Thurles Race Company will facilitate the continuation of racing at Thurles racecourse until March 2026, with operational responsibility of the racecourse passing to Horse Racing Ireland.”

Whilst welcomed by all in the Irish industry, the statement fell short of confirming a permanent resolution, going on to state:

“Keeping Thurles operational until March of next year affords all interested parties time to consider a longer-term plan for the racecourse.”

2025/26 Fixtures Will Go Ahead

Thurles’ first fixture of the new National Hunt season will take place as planned on Thursday 9 October, with a further 10 meetings confirmed up to March 2026. Local racegoers will be delighted to see the popular Thursday evening fixtures reinstated, while the continuation of the track’s five contests at Listed level or above provides a significant boost to the programme.

Tipperary Staff Expected to Run the Show

With the Molony family relinquishing control to HRI, Irish racing’s governing body is expected to turn to nearby Tipperary Racecourse for assistance. HRI already owns that venue, and the Thurles and Tipperary seasons dovetail nicely.

The final fixture at Tipperary takes place on Monday 6 October – three days before the Thurles opener, while Tipperary’s first fixture of 2026 is in late April – over a month after the Thurles finale. Given the advantageous scheduling, it is anticipated that the Tipperary staff will relocate to Thurles to oversee the maintenance of the course.

A Huge Relief but Future Remains Uncertain

At a time when racing is experiencing its fair share of struggles, the news of Thurles’ reprieve is a welcome positive.

Speaking in advance of Thursday’s meeting, leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins stated:

“I walked the track last week and it has never looked so well in its life. It walked brilliantly, too. There have been some tremendous improvements made to the ground, and it looked absolutely fantastic.”

Mullins went on to note:

“With very little investment, Thurles could be a huge attribute to Irish Racing and to lose a track like that would be an absolute travesty.”

Such a travesty has been averted for now. All involved in Irish Racing will hope that the coming year will reveal a more permanent solution, allowing this gem of a track to continue long into the future.