Plans to resume domestic horseracing on April 14th are
likely to be shelved following confirmation today of the Republic of Ireland's first foot-and-mouth outbreak.
"It's not looking good," a spokeswoman for the Irish Horseracing Authority (IHA) said.
"The plans to resume were contingent on no adverse developments arising out of the foot-and-mouth situation. Today's news has thrown that," she added.
The IHA is due to review the situation with the agriculture ministry later this week.
It had been hoped meetings at Leopardstown in Dublin, and in County Cork, would be the first to go ahead after April 14th.
Dozens of meetings were called off due to the introduction earlier this month of measures aimed at cutting the risk of foot-and-mouth disease entering the Republic of Ireland.
Restrictions on the import of horses from Britain had remained in place, although plans to allow the movement of horses across the border with Northern Ireland were under consideration.