On Friday, owner Riona Molony announced the family’s decision to retire from racing at the Tipperary track. An iconic venue steeped in history and tradition, Thurles Racecourse has long been a cornerstone of National Hunt racing in Ireland.
Many have now called for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to step in to ensure horse racing can continue at the course without the Molony family.
Responding to that, HRI’s CEO Suzanne Eade said that she would be meeting with the family “to discuss their position”.
“Thurles Racecourse has been a cornerstone of the National Hunt programme in Ireland during the winter months, and today’s news was a surprise to everyone in the industry,” she said in a statement.
“I am sure this announcement was a hugely difficult one for Riona Molony, and her daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate, and I respect their decision to take a step back from running racing at Thurles.
“Riona’s husband Pierce contributed significantly to the Irish racing industry for many years and the Molony family, led by Riona, certainly stepped up following his untimely passing. I will be seeking a meeting with the Molony family in the near future to discuss their position.”
The first recorded race-meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s. Riona’s late father Pierce took over from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, and together with their family they have worked hard at the business for the last 50 years.
Over those years many Cheltenham Festival winners have also won and raced at the track, including two-time Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle, Champion Chase winner Newmill and Gold Cup hero Sizing John.
Sadly it is also the place where jockey Michael O’Sullivan took a fall that cost him his life in February.
Thurles was due to host 11 fixtures in the 2025-26 season, but will not hold any more meetings. It is the first racecourse in Ireland to close since Tralee shut is doors in 2008.
Speaking about their decision, Ms Molony said: “It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today.
“We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support.
“Horseracing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.
“Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we’ve managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor.”
She added: “We’re going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.”
Willie Mullins has described the shock closure as a “huge blow for Irish racing”. The champion trainer has saddled more than 250 winners at the Tipperary circuit.
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.”
Fethard-based racehorse trainer and former jockey Michael ‘Mouse’ Morris said he had many fond memories of Thurles Racecourse down through the years.
“I rode a lot of winners there. One of my lucky tracks.”
He added: “It’s a huge blow for Irish racing, to be honest. It was a fantastic track. It very rarely got called off due to weather.”
The closure “doesn’t put racing in a great light,” Mr Morris continued. “I don’t know the reason now.”
Mr Morris also paid tribute to the great facilities they have for trainers, both locally and for those trainers who would travel to Thurles from elsewhere.
Trainer Mouse Morris.
He then extended his best wishes to the Molony family and called on Horse Racing Ireland to take action to save the course.
This sentiment was echoed by local TD Michael Lowry, who has asked that the site be preserved through a lease agreement or purchase.
“This is a sad, yet understandable decision,” he said. “The Molony family gave this very careful consideration and arrived at this decision after much agonising. I wish to thank the Molony family for providing and maintaining a wonderful facility through generations.
“I am fully aware of how difficult it has been to keep standards high and remain financially viable. Riona and the girls have been outstanding custodians of the track since Pierce passed away.
“Regulatory rules, expectations, demands and compliance issues placed a huge burden of pressure, stress, and strain on the owners. In recent years, Riona and the girls invested heavily to improve the facilities.
Independent TD Michael Lowry
“Thurles racecourse is renowned for the excellence of the track. It is a proper national hunt track. It is a treasure in the sport of horse racing. It is essential to the racing industry that Horse Racing Ireland step in and ensure its future as a racecourse.”
Also echoing Mr Morris, Tipperary political candidate Dan Harty said it was a “a huge blow to Thurles and the Irish racing calendar”.
“Very disappointing to hear this news this morning,” said Mr Harty. “I would like to thank the Molony family for their decades long service in providing this top class race course facility in Thurles. Best wishes in all your future endeavours.”
Bansha-based trainer and former jockey David Marnane was another to praise the Molony family.
“It’s been part of the fabric of Irish racing for a long, long time,” he said. “We’re all flat (racing), but I remember riding there, going there as an amateur. We’ve had runners there.”
Mr Marnane said it was always a good track. “The ground was always the best it could be anyway. It was always very good ground. They’re a great family there. They did a phenomenal job. They really put their life into it. It’s just a very sad day.”