Down Royal racecourse is clearly facing an uncertain future in 2019.
But yesterday, a spokesman for the Merrion Property Group Limited (MPGL) owners of the site re-iterated that racing is still very much central to their plans for the popular venue on the outskirts of Lisburn, in what it feels is the ``beginning of an exciting new era for Down Royal.''
The lease for the Down Royal site at Maze outside Lisburn is due to run our on December 31, with ownership reverting back to the Merrion Property Group Limited (MPGL).
The last fixture at Down Royal this year will be the annual St Stephen's Day card.
There are fears that this could be the last racing fixture to be held at the famous Maze venue, one of only two racecourses in Northern Ireland, the other being at Downpatrick.
But yesterday a spokesman for the MPGL took issue with coverage of the Down Royal story and referred to their original statement that declared that the MPGL ``will continue our preparation to deliver horse racing from the beginning of 2019.''
The spokesman pointed out that MPGL have always stressed their determination to assume the day-to-day operational management of Down Royal, with horse racing at its centre.
``The withdrawal of the Down Royal Corporation of Horsebreeders from the Lands Tribunal process brings forward that outcome and we will continue our preparation to deliver horse racing from the beginning of 2019.
``We are looking forward to a new era at Down Royal and to enhancing the experience of race goers and other stakeholders while contributing to the local and wider community.
``We will maintain contact with local stakeholders, including political representatives and Lisburn and Castlereagh Council as we develop our plans.
``We are at the beginning of an exciting new era for Down Royal.''
