Sulky racers could have ploughed into students in 'horrific' Tipperary incident
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath calls for strict laws to prohibit sulky-racing following incidents in Thurles and Clonmel.
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath is calling for strict laws on sulky racing after a number of incidents in Tipperary recently.
The independent TD reintroduced legislation in the Dáil aimed at prohibiting sulky racing on public roads unless lawful permission has been granted, arguing that the practice poses a serious risk to public safety and animal welfare.
Speaking at the Dáil last week Deputy McGrath said the proposed ‘Prohibition of Sulky Racing Bill 2026’ is intended to tackle what he described as an “extremely dangerous activity” that places motorists, young participants and horses at risk.
The South Tipperary TD cited a number of recent incidents, including a case on the outskirts of Clonmel where a young trotting horse collapsed on an early morning sulky run.
He also referred to another incident where a horse broke free from its carriage and ran into oncoming traffic, as well as a motorist narrowly avoiding a multi-vehicle collision near Thurles when a group of sulkies took over both lanes of the N62 without warning.
Deputy McGrath said that the Clonmel incident happened outside a busy shop and dance school. There are often large numbers of youths and parents going in and out to the shop and the dance studio, “if the horse had ploughed into them, it would have been horrific,” he added.
“These events are becoming disturbingly frequent,” Deputy McGrath told the Dáil, warning that a serious tragedy could occur if action is not taken.
The bill would establish national framework governing sulky racing on public roads.
Under the proposed legislation, local authorities would be given powers to enforce the law, with penalties including fines up to €5,000 and in more serious cases, imprisonment.
Deputy McGrath stressed that the legislation is not aimed at legitimate equine sports or organised off-road sulky racing, but at unlicensed racing taking place on public roads alongside moving traffic.
He raised concerns about animal welfare claiming horses involved in illegal sulky racing have been driven to exhaustion and suffered serious injuries.
“This is not a sport, it’s avoidable cruelty,” he said.
Deputy McGrath hopes that action can be taken to prohibit a “practice that has caused serious injury and will continue to do so unless we act.”
“I do not claim the bill is perfect, but I hope that all sides of the house will support it.” He added, “Please act for the sake of ending the cruelty to the animals and for the safety of the public.”