DENIS Egan says he is open to getting involved in other racing industry projects, either at home or abroad, after he steps down from his position as chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on September 30th.

News of his plans to take early retirement came as a surprise to many when it was announced on Thursday morning. Aged 60, he joined the Turf Club in 1995 and has been in his current role for 20 years.

He says his decision to leave his post is because he wishes to take advantage of an early retirement scheme, and it is not related to the recent controversy over the IHRB’s anti-doping programme.

He told The Irish Field: “I hope to do other things, maybe within racing, and I may even do work overseas in the short term, if something suitable came up.”

Egan was responsible for transitioning the regulatory arm of the Turf Club into the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board in 2018, taking on the role of CEO with the new body.

He also represents Irish racing internationally as a member of the Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, a member of the International Harmonisation of Raceday Rules Committee and the European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee.

Egan is currently chairman of the European Racing Medical Officers Group and the International Conference for the Health Safety and Welfare of Jockeys.

He said: “Irish racing has an enviable reputation worldwide, both for its fairness and integrity and has enjoyed huge success at home and around the world. I am proud that the Turf Club, and more recently the IHRB, has had a significant role to play in this regard.

“I believe we now have a strong platform in place to build and grow for the future and I believe the time is right to hand over to a successor to take the organisation to the next level.”

“I would like to thank the members of the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, and particularly the staff of the IHRB, for their professionalism and indeed their support down through the years.”

Harry McCalmont, chairman of the IHRB, commented: “Denis has made a huge contribution to our organisation, and indeed to the Irish racing industry in general both at home and abroad.

“He is highly regarded throughout the world of racing and has served the sport well both in Ireland and internationally. Announcing his decision now allows us to identify his successor in a planned way and we will commence this process soon. While we are sorry to see him leave, we fully respect his decision and would like to wish him well for the future.”