The Racing Post is to halt publication as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The daily newspaper has been in print since 1986 providing tips and insight from the world of horse racing.
However, with the sport completely shut down on this side of the world, editor Tom Kerr announced the decision to cease publication from Thursday.
The continued racing behind closed doors had been a godsend for the racing media in recent days, with no action to be found in the UK as a result of the virus.
ITV Racing had even made a rare trip to Thurles to cover the meeting at the Tipperary track last weekend.
But stringent new Irish government guidelines brought a halt to all meetings after Tuesday's card at Clonmel, with no resumption in sight until April 19 at the earliest.
In reality, the delay is likely to be even longer forcing the Racing Post's hand.
They will continue to post online and on their app.
In a letter to their readers, Tom Kerr wrote:
Dear reader,
It is with great sadness I must announce that following Thursday's edition the Racing Post will be temporarily suspending publication. Unfortunately, with racing in Britain and Ireland halted, betting shops closed, and our governments urging everyone to stay at home as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus, we have been left with no other choice.
Recent events have had an unfathomable impact on our world. We have seen harrowing pictures of overcrowded hospitals and overwhelmed medical professionals in other countries, and in Britain and Ireland we are bracing ourselves for similar scenes, while hoping the extensive measures announced thus far will forestall them.
Sport and betting pale into insignificance when weighed against such terrible events, but we hope in these difficult last two weeks we have provided our readers with the information they need to understand what is happening, and some welcome distraction from the unrelenting news about Covid-19's spread. In particular, I hope we have helped keep those employed in racing and facing difficult financial times ahead informed about the support available to them.
I am also incredibly proud of the work done by the Racing Post team during this crisis. From dozens of makeshift home offices, they have produced every word on every page you have read over recent days. Sadly, some of our team are being temporarily stood down, utilising the job retention scheme announced by the government, until the paper returns.
I know many of you will share our enormous disappointment that this is the last edition of the Racing Post for a while. However, we will continue to publish on racingpost.com and on the Racing Post mobile app, ensuring that racing professionals, punters and fans of the sport are informed and entertained for however long this shutdown might last. Racing might be suspended, but we know your passion for the sport and need for accurate information continues. We're still here to serve you.
At some point in the coming weeks or months, when the worst of this disease has passed, horseracing will resume. When racing is back, the Racing Post newspaper will be back as well, filled with all the wit, wisdom, data and analysis that you expect from us.
It is important in these dark days to remember that better times will come again. In Thursday's edition, our writers have picked out the stars of the sport who will keep them looking forward in the weeks to come. We can't wait to see them, and we can't wait to see you again too.
In the meantime, I wish all our readers the very best. Please do continue to join us online, but above all: stay safe, stay healthy and stay home.
With best wishes,
Tom Kerr
Editor
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