The Irish Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh is to meet a high-powered delegation from the Irish Turf Club tomorrow in a bid to sort out the proposed merger in Irish racing.
For the first time the minister will come face to face in negotiations with the Turf Club`s senior steward Gerry Scanlan, who will be accompanied by deputy senior steward Ray Rooney and Ray MacSharry, a former government minister, EU Commissioner and a keen racegoer who has a couple of horses in training.
Commenting on the meeting, Irish Racehorse Trainers` Association chairman Willie Mullins said: 'I hope we see some white smoke. We expect a result from the meeting because if it`s not fixed up this week it could be too late.'
This development comes a day after a mass demonstration by Irish racing professionals at the Curragh to call on the Turf Club to 'respond positively' to the government`s funding proposals to secure the future of the sport 'or to step aside from any future role in the industry'.
