Horses canter to the start, behind today's on-course bookmakers© Photo Healy Racing
“I had to wipe the dust from the printer!” reported on-course bookmaker David McManus at Killarney today, issuing his first tickets in 16 months at today's resumption of on-course betting.
Three bookmakers, McManus, John Quinlan and Dave Baker, dusted themselves and their gear off for Killarney's July festival today, offering wagers to 500 people, whose numbers were recently beefed-up by returning owners and racecourse club members.
McManus said “we've been a long time waiting but it's great to be back. Our last day's work B.C. - Before Covid, was at Leopardstown in early March 2020, a week before the Cheltenham Festival.”
McManus, a nephew of J.P. McManus and today representing his father Kevin McManus, added “business is alright, it was never going to knock you over and in fairness HRI are not charging us fees and we don't have as much overheads as we'd usually have. Turnover is down but we're the front-wave and hoping to show it can be done safely.
“We have three bookmakers each day this week and next week. In fairness to everyone they came together and we have done a draw for the next week. You opt in for the meeting you want and so far it has worked smoothly.”
McManus concluded “it now depends on what they (the government) say about Galway. That is out of our hands.
“I'm on the committee of the INBA (Irish National Bookmakers Association) — Ray Mulvaney is Chairman, and apparently there is some announcement tomorrow about this new regime, but that's above our pay grade and will come from government.”
