THERE will no drop in the number of drug tests carried out in Irish racing next year despite a €200,000 drop in funding for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

Earlier this week Horse Racing Ireland published its budget plans for 2020. The semi-state body has €67.2 million to spend next year but there are seven more fixtures to finance plus commitments to meet on prize money and existing racecourse developments.

As well as the cut in integrity funding, there will be €180,000 saved on racecourse marketing support and an increase in try fees for lower-class races, reversing a discount introduced in recent years.

Reacting to news of the drop in integrity funding, the IHRB’s chief executive Denis Egan said: “We are aware of the situation HRI found itself in with regard to funding and we have to accept that. Testing levels will be maintained at more or less the same level. Rather than cut back on our day-to-day activities, we are going to alter our plans for other projects which will be phased in a way to reflect the budget cut. Hopefully the funding will increase in future years.”

Prize money will go up by €1.7 million to €68 million. Key festivals and major races will benefit, along with seven new fixtures, expected to be mainly for lower-grade horses.

HRI funding for the Irish Equine Centre, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and point-to-point racing will be unchanged.

As indicated in The Irish Field recently, Tipperary has been confirmed as the preferred location for a second all-weather track but, with no funding available, this project is on ice.

Brian Kavanagh, HRI chief executive said: “The budget is extremely tight and while we have been able to fund the increased fixture list, there have been cutbacks or standstill situations in other areas.”

Hri budget headlines