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I see Wexford is racing lefthanded around the course today instead of their usual righthand. Anyone know why? Is it just for this meeting or have they changed the course direction permanently.
I did a bit of googling after I opened the thread and found out that they had a trial day on St. Patrick’s Day. So is this another one or have they switched over permanently now? And why make the change in the first place? Not that I’m complaining, I think it would be safer running around lefthanded instead of right.
An article published by the HRI Press Office in October gives some background:
Wexford racecourse officials could change the direction of the track to a left-handed circuit.
A number of National Hunt jockeys trialled the course left-handed on Wednesday and were happy with how it rode.
Going left-handed, the winning post will be sited just past the roadway, which is currently situated around a furlong from home.
Jockey Brian O’Connell, who trialled the course on Wednesday, said: “I rode a horse on the Flat there and one over fences.
“I thought it rode it well and it would certainly be worth having a trial race day there anyway.
“Going from Wednesday, you would be more than happy to go left-handed. My father (Wexford clerk of the course Val O’Connell) thinks it might work.
“Davy Russell, Jonathan Burke, Sean Flanagan, Colm Murphy, Mikey Fogarty and Jamie Codd were among the jockeys and trainers there.
“As far as I know, there is very little concrete, it’s all a trial basis at the moment.
“Any of the jockeys and trainers I spoke to would be happy to have a trial race day left-handed and then review it again afterwards.
“Personally I would think it would ride a better track going left-handed.”
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