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Irish Racing Growth Continues Despite Pandemic in HRI Report

Six-month statistics for horse racing and breeding in Ireland shows underlying growth in the industry despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report was released by Horse Racing Ireland on Thursday.

The metrics of horses in training (+24%), owners (+23.9%), new owner (+31%), runners (+23.8%), fixtures (+8.4%), and race numbers (+14.6) have all shown strong growth over the corresponding pre-pandemic figures for 2019. Attendance at Irish racecourses was the major area where figures suffered, as there has been no public attendance at any racemeeting in Ireland for the first half of 2021. Owners have been limited to just 200 per meeting and were only able to return to racecourses on June 7.

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “The increase in the number of active owners and newly registered owners in Ireland bodes well for the future as does the increase in the number of horses-in-training which is the lifeblood of the industry. This added investment by owners is reflected in the fixture list and the increase in the number of runners in both National Hunt and Flat races can only be of benefit to the industry, particularly in relation to employment.

“The major concern as we moved into 2021 was the absence of persons other than necessary workers from the racecourse and it was six months into the year before owners were able to return. The attendance figure that we publish today is primarily made up of the owners who went racing for a little over three weeks in June.

“Clearly this had a knock-on effect on betting figures, however it is encouraging to note the increase in Tote pool betting compared to the same period in 2019 which is a result of the strategic alliance between Tote Ireland and the UK Tote Group which has been in place since the start of this year.

“2020 saw the bloodstock market severely disrupted with sales frequently deferred or relocated out of Ireland due to travel restrictions. There were issues again earlier this year, but as the restrictions around international travel ease, we are hopeful that the second half of 2021 will bring a return to the growth which the sector has experienced in recent years. The turnover at bloodstock sales in the first half of 2021, particularly the Goffs Land Rover Sale and the Tattersalls Derby Sale was encouraging.

“The number of racemeetings held behind closed doors or with a limited attendance since racing resumed in June 2020 is now in excess of 500 and this has severely impacted racecourses and the various businesses which rely on them.

“The racecourses have proved resilient however and through Government support schemes, cost cutting measures, the HRI sponsorship incentive scheme and media rights revenues, they are managing their way through the crisis. That said, these measures can only be temporary and as the vaccination programme rolls out further, it is important that Irish racecourses are able to welcome back larger crowds at racemeetings.”

Kavanagh concluded, “Overall, the industry has shown resilience in the first six months of 2021 coping with the twin challenges of Brexit and Covid-19. There is a body of work to be done to restore attendances, prizemoney and race sponsorship levels, however the fundamentals of the industry remain strong and activity levels in owning, breeding and buying horses are increasing. The industry continues to deliver in terms of rural employment.

“This was backed up by research carried out for HRI by Red C in February which showed that two out of five people (40%) surveyed in a nationwide poll declared an interest in horse racing, a significant increase from 23% in 2020.

“Off the track, the first six months saw much focus on horse welfare and anti-doping issues and Horse Racing Ireland is working closely with industry stakeholders on a number of issues in both areas and will provide updates on an ongoing basis as this work proceeds.”

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HRI IRE Incentive Scheme Celebrates First Winner on British Soil

The first winner of Horse Racing Ireland's IRE Incentive Scheme in Britain was Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) in the British European Breeders' Fund EBF Maiden S. at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Saturday. The owner, Michael Blencowe, was awarded a €10,000 IRE Incentive voucher to spend on Irish-breds at Irish sales because Imperial Fighter is an Irish-bred. The IRE Incentive Scheme has now awarded a total of €450,000 in Irish sales vouchers to 36 individual owners since its inception in March of 2021. Additional British-based races that will be part of the new scheme will be announced in due course. For owners to be eligible to win a voucher, runners in relevant races need only be Irish-bred and Foal Levy compliant. For more information and a full list of IRE Incentive races, please visit www.itm.ie/IRE_Incentive.

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Oireachtas Hearings Conclude

The last of a series of Oireachtas Hearings into horse racing in Ireland concluded on Tuesday with representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest to answer questions.

The independence of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) was a topic of discussion among deputies. Representatives of the IHRB were involved in two sessions this month along with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), while the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association (IRTA) were also invited to meet the joint Oireachtas committee. This followed a number of high profile comments made in the media by trainer Jim Bolger.

“We are satisfied with the structure of the organisation and the board which is in statute in Ireland,” said an IHRB spokesperson. “This was reiterated by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine last week in the Dáil. “During our hearings, we welcomed the opportunity to detail the regulatory structure of the IHRB and to clarify matters raised by the parliamentary committee.”

Last week Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland, was asked in The Dáil if he was satisfied with the current structure of the IHRB. “I am satisfied the current structure of the IHRB is sufficiently independent to ensure maximum confidence that any allegations concerning doping, animal welfare abuses or other illegitimate activities are adequately investigated and will be followed up, where necessary,” he stated at the time.

The current IHRB board comprises of H.R.D. McCalmont (Chairman), Martin P. O'Donnell (Vice Chairman), John Byrne, Philip McLernon, J.J. Power and David McCorkell.

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Call For Greater Horse Traceability In Ireland

Irish government officials appearing before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine have denied knowledge of former racehorses being transported for slaughter from Ireland to the UK.

A BBC Panorama programme entitled The Dark Side of Horseracing, which aired on Monday evening, contained footage from cameras installed covertly by pressure group Animal Aid at Drury & Sons abattoir in Swindon. The images showed horses being killed in distressing fashion, including a number of former racehorses.

Three of the horses were formerly trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, who is currently serving a six-month ban following the publication of a photograph showing him sitting on a dead horse on his gallops at Cullentra, Co Meath. Approached for comment by the documentary makers, Elliott attested that two of the horses had been passed on to a dealer and another rehomed separately after being retired from his yard. Another horse in the film was identified as having been trained by Gavin Cromwell.

“For me, probably, the most striking issue was around the whole area of horse slaughter,” said Michael Sheahan, deputy chief veterinary officer of Ireland's department of agriculture. “The footage from the abattoir in Swindon was probably the thing that struck home most with me.”

Along with the disturbing images of horses being shot from a distance, which contravenes veterinary regulations, it was also apparent that some of the unidentified horses that were filmed had suffered injuries prior to arrival at the abattoir. It is illegal to transport animals in such a condition.

Fianna Fail politician Joe Flaherty pointed to the lack of proper traceability of horses in Ireland being an issue that needed to be urgently addressed.

He said, “We are a horse-loving nation and we greatly pride and value our reputation as an equine nation but the onus has to come to the Department of Agriculture on the issue of horse ownership. We need to get horse ownership in Ireland, the traceability and where they are sold, how they are sold and where they are exported all into one central database.”

John Osborne, director of equine welfare and bloodstock for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and a member of the recently formed Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council, told the Irish Times that HRI is looking at introducing a 'horse purse' linked to the new epassports for Thoroughbreds, which would guarantee a sum of money per horse.

He said, “Every passport has a sum of money attached to it. An approved charity partner can unlock this horse purse of, say €700, so that no horse dies in poverty and can't properly be dealt with at its end of life.”

He also noted that the demand for ex-racehorses to go on to other disciplines is not as strong in Ireland as in some of its fellow European nations.

“If you talk to people in the charity sector, all of them find it easier to place Irish horses on the continent than locally because we don't have as many people who want to take on a thoroughbred for leisure purposes,” he said.

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