HRI returns pitch fees to bookies

ON-COURSE bookmakers have welcome some financial relief from Horse Racing Ireland this week but say it will take a lot more support if their sector is to recover from lost business during the current shutdown.

Daragh Fitzpatrick represents the betting industry on the board of Horse Racing Ireland. He convinced the board to suspend some charges imposed on bookmakers by HRI and to refund recent pitch fees payments made.

Fitzpatrick said: “It’s minor stuff but I just thought it was wrong when I saw that around €60,000 has been paid in pitch fees by bookmakers on March 20th. That was in respect of February and has been refunded. The March fees won’t be charged wither. But whatever is due does have to be paid within three months of the resumption of racing.”

Looking ahead, Fitzpatrick says he and his colleagues are worried about the viability of the betting ring. “When racing starts, when will bookmakers and punters be allowed back and how many racegoers will there be in front of us? We have to pay to work and I would suggest that some bookies will never come back from this.”

Massive blow

Ray Mulvaney, chairman of the Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association, says the loss of Fairyhouse and Punchestown was a massive blow to the layers. “I also bet at the big meetings in England, so I have missed Aintree, Newmarket and now Royal Ascot has gone behind closed doors.

“But I am always optimistic and I believe that people will come back to the hotels, pubs and racecourses. There will be casualties but, over a period of time, normality will return. I appreciate the gestures from Horse Racing Ireland and we will be speaking to them again about what else could be done.”