It has been reported that a deal has been struck between the Irish Harness Racing Club and Le Trot, the French trotting racing authority, that will see French-bred trotters race in Ireland to help advance the sport.
The news comes courtesy of a report by independent.ie which explains that restricted races will be held in Ireland for the French breds.
The article goes on to state that more than 30 French-bred horses were purchased in France by Irish interests. Geldings and mares were purchased for agreed-upon prices, and the purchasers of the mares were given additional financial incentive from Le Trot. The report goes on to state that as part of the deal, Irish-born trotters with French breeding will now have access to racing in France.
James O’Sullivan, the chairman of the IHRC, was quoted as saying that the undertaking has to be the most progressive initiative that has ever happened to the sport in Ireland.
In speaking about harness racing in Ireland, O’Sullivan was quoted as saying, “It either grows or dies, we can’t stay the way we are.”
He went on to add that harness racing in Ireland has been stagnant “even though a number of things have been tried over the last 20 years.”
(With files from independent.ie)