AIDEN Burns is stepping down as manager of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, a post he has held for 15 years.

AIRO spokesperson Richard Pugh said: “Aiden has advised the directors that he wishes to resign. For 15 years in this role, Aiden has been instrumental in the introduction of many considerable improvements on behalf of racehorse owners in Ireland. He contributed to the significant increase in AIRO membership during this period.”’

Pugh said that Burns played a significant part in securing third-party insurance for owners in 2009. He built relationships with the Racehorse Owners Association in Britain and France Galop, which helped Irish owners.

Burns worked with racecourses to improve the facilities and offerings for owners, delivering owners days at Listowel, the Curragh, Galway and Punchestown. He also worked on the association’s magazine and annual awards night.

“We wish him well for the future and thank him for his contribution to AIRO and the owners of Ireland,” said Pugh. “We must now begin the process of filling this role and the directors will meet and thereafter release the details of our plan in this regard.”

The AIRO is still dealing with the fallout of the High Court case it lost to its own council member James Gough. The dispute was over the election of an owners’ representative to the board of Horse Racing Ireland, a position now held by Caren Walsh.

While Burns was not involved in the dispute, the controversy is likely to have made his job difficult during the past year.