The historic Thurles racecourse in Tipperary, owned by the Molony family since the early 1900s, has closed with immediate effect due to increasing industry demands and rising costs. The closure has been met with sadness from prominent figures in Irish racing, including former champion jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh, who highlighted Thurles’s significance as a reliable winter jumps racing venue and a place where many notable horses and jockeys achieved early success. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, also expressed disappointment and confirmed upcoming discussions between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Molony family regarding the track’s future.

Local politician Michael Lowry urged HRI to intervene to preserve Thurles, emphasizing the track’s importance to the sport and rural economy. He praised the Molony family’s dedication amid growing regulatory and financial pressures and called for solutions such as a lease or purchase to secure the racecourse’s future. The closure marks a significant loss for Irish jumps racing, with hopes that new ownership or management might revive the venue given its unique ability to host races through harsh winter conditions.