Kildare gallops reopen after disbandment of 60-strong campsite on the Curragh
Kildare trainers on the Curragh had their Royal Ascot preparations altered with a key gallop being closed after the travelling community camp was established on June 4
A key gallop on the Curragh that has been closed to Kildare trainers since June 4 has reopened after the disbandment of a travelling community campsite.
The closure has been recurring issue on The Curragh in recent years with the Little Curragh gallop reopening just before Royal Ascot this year. 60 caravans were estimated to be located where the horses would usually pull up after their training.
Speaking to the Racing Post at the time of the closure Willie McCreery said, “It's an absolute disaster. A very good gallop, a six-furlong gallop, that we always do our fast work on and various canters, is closed. And at the moment the situation is getting worse because kids from the campsite are out playing, they have dogs with them and the dogs are running after the horses and it's only a matter of time before somebody gets a fall and gets badly injured.
The lands at the Curragh Racecourse, including the area in which the caravans were located, are owned by the State through the Department of Defence and are leased on a long lease to CRL. Curragh Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh said he remains in consistent contact with the Department of Defence regarding these issues and praised their responsiveness in the matters.