The first cut of Cork’s new seven-furlong straight took place yesterday ahead of their October weekend of racing and the launch of their National Hunt winter season this Saturday and Sunday. 

Groundworks began back in early July on extending the six-furlong sprint track, making it one of only two straight seven-furlong facilities in the country.  The €600,000 development works form part of the Horse Racing Irelands Racetrack Improvements Scheme, available to racecourses throughout the country to encourage the continued improvement of racecourse track and associated works through the provision of capital grant aid.  The two-year capital investment by Cork Racecourse also includes the levelling and widening of the existing straight, upgrades to track drainage, a canter down and a new Briggs watering system.