On-course bookmakers refused to offer prices on the opening contest at Fairyhouse on Friday night in protest over trading in the Ladbrokes betting shop at the track.
Members of the National Bookmakers Association took action after the betting shop decided to accept single bets on the meeting. As a result no starting prices were returned for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Race.
There had been a tentative agreement between the bookmakers, HRI and Ladbrokes that the shops would not accept single bets on the home meetings in Ireland.
The bookmakers agreed to resume after the first race when a sign was displayed by Ladbrokes informing customers that no singles would be accepted on the racing at Fairyhouse.
Punters were perhaps spared in the first with likely favourite Howya Now Kid losing out in a thrilling finish.
The front-runner was headed by Varsity Blues inside the final furlong and despite battling back well just failed to get back on terms with Tommy Stack's charge.
The runner-up's trainer, Ger Lyons, didn't have to wait long for compensation. The Herbertstown Handicap also produced a nail biting finish but Lyons couldn't lose as That's Hot just edged out stable-mate Mist And Stone.
Winning jockey Mick Kinane went on to record a double in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden when the Aga Khan-owned Ayla made a winning debut.
Kinane produced the Daylami filly to challenge on the outside down the straight and she quickened inside the final furlong to beat Moskova by a length-and-a-half.
Johnny Murtagh, who had been on the wrong end of the two opening photo-finishes, got into the winners' enclosure when the Michael Halford-trained Cornfield Road claimed the Monard Handicap.
Dani's Girl left her previous form behind when heading for home before the straight, in the Ashbourne Median Auction Maiden, and quickening smartly inside the final furlong to score by two-and-a-half lengths from Hucklebuck.
Breffni Flyer sprinted clear in the final furlong to land the Baltrasna Fegentri (QR) Handicap while Kempes notched a hat-trick on his reappearance when wearing down Fly To Dubai in the Jansen & Hastings 10th Anniversary Handicap.
Ruby Walsh was once again on the score-sheet, at Wexford, as Cuan Na Grai ran out an easy ten-length of the Tommy James Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Ltd Novice Hurdle.
The champion had suffered a reverse in the opening Coolcotts Handicap Hurdle, however, as 1/1f After Midnight found Jack Daniels half-a-length too strong.
Shandon Star was an impressive winner of the Hilary Murphy Travel Maiden after swooping in the final furlong while Massuci was also a convincing winner of the Ye Olde Coopers Inn Handicap.
