The planned All Weather race track facility at Tipperary Racecourse is expected to be fully operational by 2027.
It is expected that the track will hold 30 race meetings annually once operational including the existing turf track.
The new track itself will be in use by the end of 2026 according to Suzanne Eades, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland(HRI).
The project had been expected to be in operation by 2024 but has been delayed by both the Pandemic and the Planning process.
Planning approval was granted by Tipperary County Council in 2022 but was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
The Bord issued it’s approval decision earlier this year recommending some modifications to the original proposal.
Delivering what will be the second All Weather Track in Ireland is a key priority HRI’s new Strategic Policy launched this week which will guide operations up to 2028.
HRI expects that the development at Tipperary Racecourse will create domestic opportunities at all levels of the industry as well as providing the marketplace for Irish racing to grow its annual foreign direct investment, currently estimated to be more than €550m per annum.
Ms Eade’s acknowledged the support for the project from the Tipperary Task Force and Tipperary County Council and says the facility will be a game changer for employment, for horse trainers and will also be available for other events that will benefit the local community and economy.
Tipperary Racecourse is also collaborating in the development of a Greenway from Sologhead to Limerick Junction.
Highlighting the value of the sector to county Tipperary, Ms Eades revealed that there are 3,000 plus people employed in the sector directly or indirectly.
The county boasts racecourses in Tipperary town, Thurles and Clonmel with annual attendances of approximately 46,000.
In addition Tippeary and Kildare County Councils are working with Fáilte Ireland to develop a tourist experience to be known as the “Thoroughbred Country Experience” with the new Tipperary town facility to be a key piece of the project.
