Forty-eight-hour declarations are here to stay, it was revealed today after the board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) agreed on the matter. The initiative was originally brought in to help deal with some of the difficulties brought about by racing during the Covid pandemic. This decision to make them permanent will not be universally welcomed, and Irish Examiner correspondent Ruby Walsh had his say in last Saturday’s column, questioning whether the given positives of the 48-hour declarations had the necessary upside for the sport. “Their permanent retention had support from associations representing racecourses, owners, and stable staff, all of whom identified the positive benefits of being able to plan further ahead. “While there has been an anticipated increase in non-runners, the overall effect has not been significant as our reserve system allows for replacements.

Source: Irish Examiner September 09, 2021 16:07 UTC