Demand for the claiming races not being met

Sir, On January 30th we, the Irish Racehorse Claiming Association, emailed the board members of Horse Racing Ireland urging them, firstly, to increase the number of claiming races in the Calendar and, perhaps more importantly, to ensure that there were more low-grade claimers where affordable horses could be claimed by new owners in an effort to strengthen dwindling owner numbers.

We cited the €5,000 Laytown claimer as being a good example. Its success speaks for itself. Sadly none of those emailed had the courtesy to reply or even acknowledge receipt of our suggestions, hence this letter to your publication.

We still believe that many more small owners could be enticed into racehorse ownership should extra ‘affordable’ claimers be added to the upcoming all-weather winter programme.

There were 10 claims lodged for All For Nothing (claiming price €5,000) on a wet Monday night at Ballinrobe this year and 14 claims lodged for four different successfully claimed horses in last week’s Laytown €5,000 claimer.

Surely, as we previously suggested, this shows there is an appetite and need for such low-grade affairs and we trust that more races like these will be programmed for Dundalk.

On a positive note it is good to see that the new HRI ownership website finally dedicates a section to highlighting claiming races as one of the ways to purchase a racehorse.

While we welcome the increase in the number of claiming races being run we believe that it is paramount that these races are correctly framed in order to maximise the actual number of horses being claimed.

In an era when racing has haemorrhaged owners and racegoers, some statistics published in the recent Deloitte report raised a few eyebrows.

The report stated that while registered owners numbers had decreased by 50% since 2008, the pace of the decline had slowed significantly and indeed had increased in 2016 from 2015 levels.

Considering that the rules regarding horses rated under 45 being deleted/removed from the system have changed since 2008, the figures cited are surely not comparable. There are presently hundreds of these horses being kept in the system. - Yours etc,

JAMES MESCALL

Secretary,

Irish Racehorse Claiming Association.

Champions Weekend

Sir, - It was interesting to see at the Curragh last Sunday that the racecourse management belatedly took up my idea (from last April) of tenting the infield. The paying public was upped from 3,800 on Derby Day to 5,370 (did that include the workers on the day?).

As at Leopardstown on Saturday, there was €2.2 million on offer which attracted quality horses from here and overseas. However, such a pathetic attendance for excellent racing surely begs the question will we ever see the 30,000 attendance of those halcyon days in the 1970s and 80s in the new €70 million Curragh.

The words “white” and “elephant” spring to mind at such largesse for one day’s racing.

Even my favourite racecourse, Leopardstown, despite offering such attractions as best dressed awards and live music in addition to the top-class racing, had a modest crowd. Two barmen had time to row among themselves as to who should pull my pint, which speaks for itself.

Both racecourses have tried hard. All that’s left now is to let them in for nothing next year!

I write this in advance of my annual visit to Listowel for the Kerry National. Last year the race attracted an attendance of 25,000. Maybe Listowel could tell their racecourse colleagues how they do it – for a prize fund of €210,000 on the day! – Yours etc.,

EDWARD LYNCH,

South Mall,

Lismore,

Co. Waterford.

Thoroughbred Trail

Sir, - On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to express a sincere thank you to all involved in the organising of last Sunday’s Thoroughbred Trail at the Curragh, in conjunction with the Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

We were on Trail 3. Our guide David kept us well informed on the coach journey which took in the yards of Adrian Keatley, Ken Condon and Robbie McNamara.

The trainers and the stable staff went to tremendous effort to make us all feel welcome in their yards and could not have been more informative and hospitable.

A very well organised and enjoyable day was had by all. Can’t wait for the next one. – Yours etc.,

LORRAINE DUGGAN,

Athenry,

Co Galway.

Much improved at the Curragh

Sir - I am a regular visitor to the Curragh but was left very disappointed after attending the Guineas Festival earlier in the year.

While the poor weather was blamed for a lot of the discomfort I felt that the basic needs of ordinary racegoers had been forgotten.

I contacted the Curragh to voice my concerns and was delighted to see that they took people’s comments on board and took steps to improve the situation over Champions Weekend.

Last Sunday there was more shelter for patrons and a lot more seating available around the racecourse, especially in the dining areas. There was also a much wider variety of food options available including, to my delight, a selection of hot and cold vegetarian options.

While the weather this past weekend was similar to that on Guineas weekend, the improvements made for a far more enjoyable and comfortable experience for the general public.

Coupled with the outstanding initiative that is the Thoroughbred Trail, I left the Curragh on Sunday and faced the long drive home feeling that I had not only enjoyed the experience, but more importantly, had received value for my money. - Yours etc,

SARAH O’SULLIVAN

Rathkeale,

Co Limerick

Letters to the Editor should be addressed to The Editor, The Irish Field, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12. Name, address and telephone number must be included for verification. Letters are published at the Editor’s discretion and the Editor reserves the right to edit letters within reason.