Horse Racing Ireland has today (Monday 6th September 2010) released the 2011 Fixture List, informing the Irish horsing world of where they will be racing for the next year. The total number of horse racing fixtures has been reduced by 10 from 345 to 335, although the number of horse racing days has increased from 264 to 267. It is too soon to tell what the reaction of the horsing community will be, but perhaps some will welcome a less vigorous season.

The Flat season will start at the Curragh on Sunday 20th March and will end at Dundalk on Friday 16th December, meaning a solid 9 months of racing fixtures. Horse Racing Ireland has also told that the Fairyhouse Easter Festival will run from the 24th-26th April, and as Easter is late in 2011 the Punchestown Festival will run from the 3rd to the 7thy May, with the Killarney Spring Festival running from the 15th to the 17th May. These festivals are great family days out, with thousands of people turning out to watch the races.

Due to the falling population of horses (at the end of August it was down 13%) and a lesser number of entries and runners (for the first eight months it was down 22% and 5% respectively) there is a smaller number of horse racing fixtures, as approved by the HRI board. Racecourses that are due to lose fixtures are Cork, the Curragh, Punchestown, Sligo Dundalk, Fairyhouse, Limerick, Listoewel and Tipperary. 

One final point the HRI has made it that the number of calendar days with no racing had been reduced from 101 to 98, meaning there will be more Irish days in 2011, just less fixtures. This will in turn benefit the off-course betting turnover, and a reduction in clashing fixtures will also help reduce costs for the racing industry. This will mean people will have a higher chance of seeing more races, ensuring that 2011 will be an exciting racing year.