The board of Horseracing Ireland (HRI) has approved grant aid for the Ballinrobe and Killarney racecourses for development work to be carried out in the next two years.

HRI will be contributing 1.9m euro (£1.3m) each towards the 3.4m euro (£2.3m) Ballinrobe scheme and the 3.3m euro (£2.2m) Killarney project.

Ballinrobe’s work consists of a track extension, which will see the addition of a second back straight comprising 4.5 furlong, as well as a new gateway and racecourse entrance.

John Flannelly, manager of Ballinrobe racecourse, said: “This additional funding will be an enormous help and will allow us to develop the sense of arrival at the course by creating a proper entrance to the track, while the addition of a second back straight will provide the racecourse with much needed extra racing ground.”

Killarney Racecourse will see improvements to its corporate area, sponsors’ lounge and Maurice O’Donaghue stand, as well as enhanced catering facilities. The most significant development will be a new entrance building, incorporating the racecourse’s offices.

HRI chief executive, Brian Kavanagh, said: “Ballinrobe and Killarney, hosting nine and eight fixtures respectively, have gone from strength to strength recently and I am delighted that the board has approved these additional works that will add to the sporting and social infrastructure of each racecourse’s local area.” Details: www.horseracingireland.ie