RACING TURF CLUB DISPUTE:IN AN unprecedented move in Irish racing history, Turf Club officials have issued strike notice for the last day of this month when Sunday fixtures are due to be run at Leopardstown and Clonmel.

Never before in the Turf Club’s 220-year history have the regulatory body’s officials gone on strike, but yesterday’s announcement by the Mandate union threatens to halt racing in Ireland on February 28th, just over two weeks before the famous Cheltenham Festival.

The 32-member Turf Club Officials Association (TCOA) voted on Friday to take strike action after two days of talks at the Labour Relations Commission failed to resolve a long-running dispute over issues relating to pay and cuts to the Turf Club’s integrity budget.

The regulatory body has seen its funding from Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) cut by €1.5 million in the last two years, from €7.9 million to €6.4 million, and the Turf Club’s executive are looking for staff-related cuts which they say account for 77 per cent of their costs.

However, the TCOA membership, made up of officials who police racing on-course, and include stewards, course clerks, handicappers and scales clerks, have taken the unprecedented step of threatening to strike on a double-fixture day that could see authorities stretched to the limit if they try to race despite a strike.

In a lengthy statement last evening, Mandate were heavily critical of the Turf Club’s handling of the dispute and again urged the regulatory body to try to resolve the issue at the Labour Court.

“You simply cannot go about business the way the Turf Club have,” said Mandate spokeswoman Mandy Kane. “They have already unilaterally imposed income cuts on our members and are now attempting to impose further cuts which will have a devastating effect, not only on our members but also the integrity of the horseracing industry in Ireland.”

The union said the cuts the Turf Club are looking for would result in 36 per cent pay cuts to TCOA members despite Turf Club funding being reduced by 19 per cent by HRI.

“We have stated previously that while we accept cost-cutting measures may be necessary, we are opposed to the way the Turf Club has gone about this. It would seem they would prefer to force their employees to strike rather than reach an amicable agreement,” added Kane.

“There is, however, a strong possibility of resolving the dispute ahead of the strike, but that is only if both sides agree to attend the Labour Court. Yet despite receiving funding from Irish taxpayers, the Turf Club is refusing to use the State mechanism for resolving industrial relations disputes.”

Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said last night he was unable to comment fully on the latest developments because he hadn’t received official notification of the strike. Instead, he said he had only seen a copy of the Mandate press-statement.

“It is irresponsible of Mandate to publish information about strike notice without having first informed the employer,” Egan said.

The potential for a bitter dispute that could divide the entire racing industry is there if both sides dig their heels in, with some of the biggest names in the sport possibly having to decide if they are going to pass a picket.

Leopardstown on February 28th is a significant date because of the traditional post-race gallops session for Cheltenham-bound horses. The workouts are always well-attended and often feature the cream of Ireland’s National Hunt talent, both equine and human.