INCREASES in the number of horses-in-training, runners and owners were some of the positives to be taken from the half-yearly figures issued on Thursday by Horse Racing Ireland.

While Irish-trained and bred horses continue to excel at home and abroad, National Hunt racing in Ireland is not as healthy as its flat counterpart, while those attending the races are betting less on track. Tote betting, while up a healthy 30% overall, declined by 6% on-course, while the bookmakers took in 10% less.

HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh has indicated that action is being taken to address this situation. “In the main the declines in the Tote’s on-course betting were attendance related and as is the case each year, the Galway Festival will have a major bearing on Tote Ireland’s business for the second half and the full year.

“The drop off in attendances in June had an adverse effect on on-course bookmaker figures. However it’s clear that, regardless of attendances, on-course betting with both Tote and bookmakers remains in decline and continues to be under significant pressure. We are discussing with racecourses and bookmakers ways in which this trend can be reversed.”

Average attendances for the year remain steady, even allowing for the serious fall off in June which saw the Irish Derby crowd down by some 7,000 on last year. Paddy Walsh, chief executive of the Association of Irish Racecourses said: “From a financial perspective, racecourses, despite recent increases in income from media rights, remain reliant on the income generated by on-course attendances for their economic survival. The development of racecourse attendances is also vital from a sporting perspective. We are all anxious to develop and nurture interest in the sport of horseracing amongst the general public and have invested significantly in racecourse facilities to attract and maintain the interest of the modern day racegoer.”

Increases in prize-money and reductions in owners’ administrative costs are two of the main reasons put forward for the increase in the numbers of horses-in-training and the reversal in owner numbers which have been in decline for some time. This trend was welcomed by the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners’ manager Aiden Burns.

“AIRO very much welcomes the positive trends shown in the Horse Racing Ireland half-year statistics. The increases in new owners and horses-in-training is very encouraging and we are thankful to the Government for the additional funding it provided for the industry over the past number of years.

“This funding enabled Horse Racing Ireland to increase prize-money which is a very significant factor in encouraging new owners into the sport. With the economy improving generally and with the recent introduction of the new betting tax legislation, it is hoped that Government will be in a position to allocate the necessary level of funding to enable the industry to continue to grow in the future,” Burns said.

RIGHT DIRECTION

While admitting that some increases are coming off a low base, the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association chief executive Michael Grassick welcomed the fact that key figures “are going in the right direction.”

He added: “The general public has less disposable income and so the industry is doing well to be moving in the right direction. There is little excess money around and the business needs people to have spending power. It is good to see more horses-in-training and new owners coming into racing.”

While prize-money was up by 6.5% to €25,542,000, race sponsorship performed even better, growing by 8% to €3,277,000. Kavanagh was pleased with the growth. “Prize-money and sponsorship are vital elements of the racing economy, which underpin the health of Irish racing. We have extended prize-money down to fifth in all races this year and, as a consequence, the number of runners winning prize-money has risen by 17%.”

Sales at public auction in Goffs, Tattersalls Ireland and Goresbridge rose by 2% to almost €39 million for the first half of the year. In a year when Irish horses have plundered major prizes at Cheltenham, Royal Ascot, Epsom and Aintree, Kavanagh hopes the trend will continue, saying “The strength of our horses, trainers and riders is the cornerstone of the industry here in Ireland and so far 2016 has seen great success on the track. This is a very positive background as we approach the major bloodstock sales in the second half of the year.”