Kelly welcomes Racing return but critical Greyhounds aren’t included
Labour Party leader and Tipperary T.D. Alan Kelly has welcomed the announcement that horse racing meetings will resume on Monday, 8th June but believes the decision not to resume greyhound racing meetings along side it makes no sense.
The government confirmed the resumption of horse racing, behind closed doors, would be brought forward to phase 2 on June 8th, however, greyhound racing won’t get the go ahead until phase 3 on June 29th.
"The plans to allow horse racing meetings to go ahead behind closed doors from June 8th while not allowing greyhound racing meetings to go ahead in similar circumstances is just baffling and the government needs to explain it,” Deputy Kelly said.
“Greyhound racing successfully complied with all Covid 19 protocols when it was operated on a closed-door basis during March this year.
"It is very difficult to understand why greyhound racing isn't being assessed as being capable of operating behind closed doors given that the industry has done more work in their stadiums to meet the necessary protocol".