THE crisis in the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) has deepened. This week chair Brian Polly informed his fellow Council members that he had written to the Minister for Agriculture to express reservations over how the recent election of the owners’ representative on the Horse Racing Ireland board had been handled by the Association.

Polly was defeated in that election by Caren Walsh and he was quick to congratulate the winner. However, Polly believes that some Council members resent that he contested the election in the first place and that they hold him chiefly responsible for the near six-figure sum lost in legal fees arising from the Association’s earlier attempt to return Walsh unopposed, a move which was challenged by sitting HRI board member James Gough.

Now feeling isolated from the Council, Polly this week gave a statement to The Irish Field in which he defends his handling of the matter. He also states his belief that some Council members have lost their way and need to refocus on the true concerns of racehorse owners.

Council member and spokesperson Richard Pugh also issued a brief statement on behalf of the Council, confirming the election result. Walsh declined to comment as she waits to hear from the Minister for Agriculture whether or not she is to replace Gough as the owners’ representative on the HRI board.

Gough, a Council member himself but unable to contest the election due to a change in the Association’s rules, has also written to the Minister with his concerns and has called on the entire Council to resign.

Furthermore, he is seeking copies of the AIRO accounts with a view to questioning any expenditure on foreign trips by AIRO personnel.

Another Council member, John Lynam, put matters in perspective: “There is conflict within the Council and I am worried about where the organisation is going. We are very fortunate to have Governments who look benevolently upon the racing industry. I believe the quid pro quo is that we don’t cause the Government grief. We are all on the life support of the annual Government grant.”

Lynam resigned from the Council some years ago but rejoined recently following an invitation from Polly. He said: “I have represented owners on various working groups in Irish racing and I think I have achieved a fair amount while giving my time freely. I am happy to do so in the interests of owners but we need to get this sorted. The AIRO is being attacked from the outside and now from the inside.”

Statement from Brian Polly

Following the initial election for the owners’ representative seat on the board of Horse Racing Ireland – when the Association erroneously only nominated a single candidate - a second election was requested on Minister Creed’s direction, he having ruled there must be at least two candidates in the election to make it valid.

I was subsequently nominated as a ‘second candidate’, in effect only to make Ms Caren Walsh’s appointment valid. This was done on the understanding that I was a just a token candidate that would not canvas or actively seek election. I felt that my later attempts to do so were met with hostility and intimidation, effectively there being a conspiracy against me when I sought support against the Council’s preferred candidate. I found this to be unfair to both myself and those that were trying to support me.

Having reflected on this year’s AGM, I, as chairman of the Association, had given the points and valid concerns raised at it a lot of thought. I spoke with many small owners and listened to the grievances, amongst them the perceived current unfair racing programme and the lack of effort being made on their behalf by the Association, whom they fund through their subscription. From their feedback I agreed that the current Association had lost direction.

Founded as a lobby group to provide its members with a platform to provide leverage for the owners, who in effect fund Irish racing, sadly it has now found itself preoccupied with matters that have little if no bearing on bettering the interests of its paid-up members.

Some current Council members are devoting time to seeking national park status for the Curragh. What that has to do with owners’ interests is highly questionable.

Our priority should be to look after our paid-up members. The current casualty rate of owners in our Association sadly suggests a lot more needs to be done in this respect.

I have raised many concerns as to how members’ subscriptions have and are being spent. My recent refusal to sanction sponsorship of a bouncy castle at the Curragh from members’ depleted funds further highlights this. Amazingly, I was later informed that my ruling on this too had been overruled. This coming at a time when members’ funds have been completely exhausted following the recent unsuccessful court case.

This, in effect, has left members feeling deflated and the events that have followed surely speak for themselves. Sadly, I felt that I had no choice but to voice my concerns to Minister Creed regarding the above.

Statement from Airo Council

The AIRO council have been made aware that a reservation expressed by the losing candidate in the election to become the Owners representative on the HRI board has been conveyed in a letter to Minister Creed.

This election was conducted in accordance with the criteria outlined by the Minister whereby more than one candidate would be put forward for election.

As per all previous elections it was co-ordinated by our auditors Ernest & Young who received, counted, and presented the results at a SGM on Saturday August 3rd 2019. Caren Walsh was duly elected confirmed and congratulated by the chair as the successful candidate.

Being currently unaware of the content of the letter we cannot provide any further comment at this time. AIRO have spent a notable sum of money in defending a legal action taken by James Gough earlier this year in relation to the election which has now been settled.