MAJOR SHOCK

Mullins says Thurles closure a huge blow for all involved

- ASHLEY IVESON

WILLIE Mullins has described the shock closure of Thurles racecourse as a “huge blow for Irish racing”.

The champion trainer has saddled more than 250 winners at the Tipperary circuit, where the first ever recorded race meeting took place in 1732.

Thurles, Ireland's only privately-owned racehorse, has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s, but in a statement, Riona Molony confirmed the track is to close with immediate effect.

Mullins said: "It was a major shock this morning to hear the news. It will be a huge blow for Irish racing, more specifically Irish jump racing and winter jump racing.

"Thurles is a track that always had beautiful ground in the winter when other tracks couldn't.

"It's the last family-run track in Ireland, I believe. Pierce Molony ran it for years, his father ran it before him and Riona and family have run it since Pierce died and they've been fantastic for the Irish jump fraternity over the years."

The late Pierce Molony took over the running of Thurles from his father Dr Paddy Molony in 1974, with his widow Riona and family leading operations since his death in 2015.