Building on three successful years, the 2024 series includes nine races which will be run for points over a variety of conditions to cater to different trainers and horses throughout the Flat season. All races in the series will continue to benefit from a 50% increase in prize-money.

The series will commence at Cork on Sunday, April 21 and then proceed to Leopardstown, Navan, Ballinrobe, Tramore, Down Royal, Tipperary and Killarney. The series finale will be hosted at Naas on Thursday, September 19.

“This initiative has truly thrived over the past three years, becoming an integral part of our commitment to supporting the thoroughbred racing and bloodstock industries, which are vital to our business,” said Philip Gilligan, GAIN Equine Nutrition's Irish country manager.

“The series' success stems from its inclusive recognition of all stakeholders involved. Not only does it offer increased prize-money for owners, but it also acknowledges the hard work of trainers through the league table, as well as breeders and the dedicated stable staff. On behalf of our team, I extend our heartfelt best wishes to all connections involved. Here's to an exciting and successful year ahead!”

The post GAIN The Advantage Series Returns For 2024 With Nine Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Three-year-olds with a median price of no more than €75,000 will be able to take part in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, with entries for the race, run over nine and a half furlongs, set to close on Wednesday, March 13. The winner will receive an automatic free entry into the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday, June 30. This applies to both colts and fillies.

Six races, each worth at least €25,000, make up the series which offers total prize-money of €330,000. The Curragh, Navan and Cork will host four maiden races between them–two for fillies only–and each of these races will be restricted to three-year-olds whose sires achieved a median price of not more than €50,000 in 2022.

A median price of €75,000 will apply to runners in the €30,000 Irish Stallions Farms EBF 3yo Spring Series Race held at Roscommon on Monday, May 13. The same median price restriction will apply to runners in the €200,000 series finale.

There will be free entry, sponsored by Irish Stallion Farms, for all racegoers at Gowran Park on Bank Holiday Monday, June 3 and the racecourse's manager, Eddie Scally, said, “Gowran Park are really excited to host the inaugural €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, the region's richest Flat race.

“This race will form part of an action-packed day both on and off the track this June Bank Holiday Monday with live music and a massive family fun day. We hope the Gowran Classic will attract all the top trainers and riders from both Ireland and abroad and see for themselves the warm Kilkenny welcome.”

Joe Foley, chairman of the Irish EBF, added, “Irish Stallion Farms already sponsor two successful series for two-year-olds, the auction and median series with 27 races in each and a combined value of nearly €850,000.

“We felt it important to develop a similar series for later developing middle-distance three-year-olds; hence the Spring Series was initiated with the valuable €200,000 race at Gowran as its centrepiece. We look forward to seeing this three-year-old series grow and develop and are delighted to support Gowran Park racecourse in particular, who are investing heavily in their facilities.”

The post Richest Race Ever Run at Gowran Park Headlines New Spring Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The former is now the head of Racing and Insights and will report to the director of Racing, Jonathan Mullin. Previously with Tattersalls Ireland since 2012 and their director of Horses-in-Training Sales since 2015, he will be responsible for the management of the Racing Department and the Race Planning Function. Pugh will also cease in his role of director of Point-to-Point Services, which he co-founded in 2003.

Hammer is the new senior data insights manager and will begin her role in May. She will report to the head of Racing & Insights. Her earlier roles include Flutter from 2018 and she is currently trading business insights manager at BoyleSports, which she joined in 2022.

The post Richard Pugh Leaves Role With Tattersalls Ireland To Join HRI appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

However, in the full-year statistics released by HRI on Thursday, it showed that the total number of active owners in Ireland has fallen by 1.2% to 4,698 and racecourse attendance figures have also dipped compared to the numbers posted in 2022. 

Total on-course betting, including Tote, rose to €80.5m in 2023, an increase of 5.9%. Bookmaker betting on-course increased by the same percentage to €69.8m, a figure comprising €59.9m, up 5.1%, in the betting ring and a turnover of €9.9m in the on-course SP shops, up 11.2% on the previous year. 

Total Tote betting, incorporating the World Pool meetings at the Curragh on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day in early July and the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown in September, has risen by 9.6% to €78m. Betting on-course with Tote is up by 5.6% to €10.7m. Off-course betting receipts amounted to €102.6m, a slight increase on last year's figure of €102m.

There was also a rise in the figures relating to commercial sponsorship. That figure rose by 8.8% to €6.3m with EBF sponsorship coming in at €2.67m, up 3.1% on last year. Bloodstock sales at public auction increased by 7.5% to €231.5m, the value of Irish-foaled export horses sold through auction is €333.7m while the number of countries to which Irish-foaled horses were sold at auction was 33.

Eade said, “These figures more than demonstrate that the Irish racing and breeding industry remains in a strong position despite recent challenges and the cost-of-living crisis that now extends into its third year. 

“Each has posed a particular threat and yet, with the support of Government and the industry's continued ability to attract foreign direct investment, the figures continue to hold up. A rise in the owner retention rate and in the number of horses-in-training point to a healthy product and will drive employment within the sector.

“Reported attendances in 2023 fell back by just under 1% to 1.236m. However, it was hugely encouraging that attendances at the major festivals were strong throughout the year.” 

While the total number of owners fell by 1.2% to 4,698, the number of syndicates has risen by 4% to 858. The number of companies registered as owners in Ireland is up 3.3% to 158. The number of new owners is down by 1.6% to 805 but encouragingly, the owner retention rate has risen to 73.7%, up 1.2% on last year.

Both the UK and the USA were deemed as key areas of focus for the Ownership Department and it is significant that the ownership base has risen in both countries, with a total of 357 UK-based owners, an increase of 7.5%, and 107 owners resident in the USA, up from 90 last year. The 2023 economic impact report, carried out on behalf of HRI by Deloitte, shows that Irish racing and breeding attracts over €550m in foreign direct investment each year.  

The post HRI Reports “Strong” Figures In 2023 Despite Dip In Owners And Attendance appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The creation of the Joint Cooperation Committee is to serve as a formal platform for members within the British and Irish horseracing industries to engage with their counterparts in Japan via the JRA. It will consist of agreed representatives from key shareholders in the respective territories including the BHA, HRI, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), and principal courses like The Jockey Club Racecourses, York, Ascot, Goodwood, and Leopardstown.

The group's earliest groundwork includes a variety of schemes, and marketing and media initiatives to promote Japanese horses and connections travelling to Great Britain and Ireland, and vice versa by raising awareness of those markets among domestic participants, media, bettors, and fans. Another goal is to create a direct regulatory partnership which will perform its duties but not cut across pre-existing arrangements. Ultimately, the goal is to further internationalise the sport of horse racing and support the breeding industries.

“I am delighted that the horse racing organisations in Britain and Ireland with their history, tradition, quality and innovation, have now united to form the Joint Cooperation Committee with the Japanese Racing Association,” said JRA CEO, Masayoshi Yoshida. “It is an important and significant step for the JRA, and Japanese horse racing. We will be working together more strongly than ever before to achieve further development in all areas. I look forward to working hand-in-hand to create the future of horse racing together.”

Joe Saumarez Smith, chairman of the new Joint Cooperation Committee as well as the chair of the BHA, said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with the JRA and are hugely grateful for their significant support. The creation of this Committee is the next step in our relationship, as we further pool our knowledge and insight, and combine our considerable marketing and media assets. This can only lead to increased participation in each other's racing, resulting in deeper fan engagement, and increased and new revenues.”

HRI's CEO, Suzanne Eade, shared the enthusiasm of her counterparts for the future of the new committee. “Ireland looks forward to being a full and active partner with Britain and Japan in the Joint Cooperation Committee to share our collective wisdom and progress our shared objectives of increasing participation and engagement.”

The post Joint Cooperation Committee Formed by Japanese, British and Irish Racing Industries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Also with effect from Mar. 1, Jonathan Mullin, who has served as Director of Communications and Public Affairs since 2017, will be taking over the position of Director of Racing. HRI has begun recruiting for a new Director of Communications and Public Affairs.

From Jan. 1, Shane Doyle will be moving to the position of Breeding Development Manager with Andrew Finnegan, currently Assistant Race Planning Manager and Scheduling Manager, succeeding Shane as Race Planning Manager.

For more information, click here.

The post HRI Outlines Racing Department Changes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The strategy, which supports Ireland's Climate Action Plan and the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, identifies the role HRI will play in the change in sustainability across the organisation, while also providing guidance and support to the industry.

“HRI is committed to fostering an industry-wide culture of sustainability,” said Roger Casey, Chief Financial Officer, HRI. “We also want to support the industry to increase its understanding and delivery of sustainability priorities through practical measures and financial supports where possible. To achieve this, HRI will continuously share our learnings with industry stakeholders. Significant sustainable development funding also needs to be made available nationally and at EU level, and we continue to work with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in this regard.”

Victor Quinlan, Capital Projects and Environmental Sustainability Lead, HRI, added, “Under the SEAI Public Sector Partnership Programme, HRI is committed to maximising energy efficiency, improving the environment, and meeting national energy saving obligations. We have made significant progress over recent years and together with our HRI racecourses, Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary, we report on our energy efficiency and CO2 footprint annually, as we work towards the mandated 2030 public sector targets.”

There is also ongoing progress on several initiatives including education and training programmes through Equuip, HRI's Industry Education and Training department, employee and industry assistance programmes, the launch of a Health, Safety and Well-being Guide for the Industry, increased local community engagement and the achievement of the IBEC KeepWell Mark, an evidence-based accreditation that puts the wellbeing of employees at the forefront of company policy.

To view the complete strategy, click here.

The post HRI Launches Sustainability Strategy ‘ Racing Towards a Better World’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A total of 43 nominees were made for the HRI Awards, which are as follows:

Horse of the Year:

• Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr})
• Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn})
• Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr})
• Galopin Des Champs (Fr) (Timos {Ger})
• Energumene (Fr) (Denham Red {Fr})
• State Man (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr})

National Hunt Award:

• Paul Townend
• Willie Mullins
• Gordon Elliott
• Barry Connell

Flat Award:

• Aidan O'Brien
• Paddy Twomey
• Colin Keane
• Ryan Moore

NH Achievement Award:

• Michael O'Sullivan
• Emmet Mullins
• Patrick Mullins
• John Kiely
• John McConnell
• Martin Brassil
• Liam Burke
• Henry de Bromhead

Flat Achievement Award:

• Wesley Joyce
• Jamie Powell
• Donnacha O'Brien
• Fozzy Stack
• Adrian Murray
• Ken Condon
• Natalia Lupini

Racecourse of the Year Award:

• Ballinrobe
• Leopardstown
• Naas
• Punchestown

Point-To-Point Award:

• Derek O'Connor
• Barry O'Neill
• Colin Bowe
• Maxine O'Sullivan
• Pa King

Emerging Talent Award:

• John Gleeson
• Danny Gilligan
• Ben Harvey
• Conor Stone-Walsh
• Cian Collins

The Ride of the Year Award will be determined via public vote, while the Horse of the Year, and the winners of the awards in the categories of National Hunt, National Hunt Achievement, Flat, Flat Achievement, Point-to-Point and Emerging Talent will be decided by a ballot of the HRI Awards committee.

Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “Irish racing is blessed to have such a deep pool of talent and I'm not envious of those tasked with picking the nominations for our annual awards. There are some wonderful and uplifting stories among the nominees and I wish everyone the very best of luck.”

The post HRI Award Nominees Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The IRE Incentive scheme awards a bonus of €10,000 to owners of Irish-bred winners of selected races across the Flat and National Hunt programmes in Ireland and Britain and the owners of each eligible winner–those carrying the [Ire] suffix and Foal Levy compliant–have until the end of the following year to spend their bonus on Irish-breds at Irish sales. Over 250 individual owners have won bonuses, which have so far contributed to over €10,000,000 in turnover at Irish sales, a figure expected to increase markedly in the coming months as bonus-winners return to Ireland with over €1,500,000 to spend on Irish-breds.

“We are thrilled that the IRE Incentive scheme has been achieving its aim in rewarding and encouraging investment in Irish-bred stock,” ITM CEO Charles O'Neill commented. “To have such a diverse range of owners ready to reinvest as the Irish sales season gets into gear is a major boost for the Irish industry.”

Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale commented: “The IRE Incentive is a superb and proven scheme that has generated substantial inward investment for Ireland and increased demand for our world-class Irish-bred stock at the sales. Huge credit must go to Horse Racing Ireland, backed by the Irish government, for implementing such an effective scheme. Long may it continue.”

The scheme is funded by Horse Racing Ireland and managed by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, with support from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Foal Levy. A list of the IRE Incentive races and scheme terms and conditions are available on the ITM website.

The post Over €1.5m ready to be spent at Irish sales through IRE Incentive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

All aspiring jockeys who take out their qualified riders license will qualify for the GMMF subsidy, as well as a number of bursaries that cover the cost of a licences, helmet and back protector. The George Mernagh Memorial Fund was established in honour of the former jockey and Tattersalls Ireland Chief Executive who passed away from cancer in July 2011.

“George Mernagh was a shining example of someone who maximised the opportunity which becoming a qualified rider offers,” Richard Pugh, Tattersalls Ireland Director and former qualified rider, said. “Following a period as a qualified rider in point-to-points, an inevitably successful career as a professional followed. From there his career progressed further to becoming the Managing Director of Tattersalls Ireland.

“In no other sport can you change in the same changing rooms and compete with professionals on the very same playing pitch whilst retaining amateur status, so it seems fitting that this initiative, developed in his memory, will afford the opportunity for many more riders to enjoy the QR benefits both in the saddle and beyond.”

The post Rider Subsidy And Bursary Announced By The George Mernagh Memorial Fund appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post