A planned ostrich race at Punchestown racecourse has been called off.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, had said that he would ban the holding of the race at Punchestown next Sunday if it was not called off. A Department official confirmed last night that the proposal to hold the race had now been abandoned.
The organisers of the 1998 IFG Punchestown International said the decision to call of the event had been taken after consultation with the Department and the Garda
However, the organisers, in a statement, said the ostriches would be present at Punchestown. They will be on show with a leading South African ostrich trainer and farmer, Mr Alex Hooper, on hand to provide information.
Punchestown got off to a good start yesterday with 126 competitors from 12 countries taking part in the dressage, the first phase of the event. Mark Todd from New Zealand set a high standard on Regal Scot, some 10 marks ahead of his nearest rival.
