Racing back on course after alert

The scene at Down Royal racecouse on Boxing Day

Racing at Down Royal racecourse in County Down which had to be abandoned after a hoax bomb alert, took place on Tuesday instead.

Thousands had to leave the Boxing Day meeting in Hillsborough after one race, following a telephone bomb warning.

Mike Todd, manager of Down Royal, said there was free admission for all who returned to watch the races.

In November, the Continuity IRA was blamed for an alert which cut short the high-profile NI Festival of Racing.

Organisers said that alert cost them tens of thousands of pounds.

Mr Todd said the Northern Irish public were "very resilient".

"They had their fun and their festive day out disrupted and they are back again to show their support today," he said.

"It was free in, it was a gesture by the racecourse. We are going forward, we are not going to let this disrupt us. We have to be positive.

Mike Todd said the Northern Irish public were very resilient

"We are horse racing, this is a totally inclusive sport. It is sport for all and to align us to some political cause is totally ridiculous."

On Monday, the committee of the racecourse thanked everyone for leaving in an orderly manner.

They condemned those behind the bomb warning, but said they would not be outdone by a "tiny minority who are determined to ruin one of the few shared sporting events in this region".