THE recent release of the six-month statistics for the racing industry brought with them a number of positive trends which featured a near 12% rise in on-course betting with bookmakers.
After years of a seemingly relentless slide in turnover this represented a positive development, but the ongoing battle faced by bookmakers was brought into focus through the first three days of the Galway Festival this week. The seven-day spectacular at Ballybrit is absolutely central to the fortunes of bookies throughout the year and the reality emerging from the strongest on course market in the calendar is that the outlook for on-course layers remains tough.
Over the first three days of the meeting the bookies took in just over €2.871 million as against €2.849 million. This represents a slight improvement, but to put this figure into focus the bookmakers’ turnover for the first three days of the meeting in 2014 came in at just under €4 million. While comparing the on course turnover for the last two years during the first three days of the meeting there appears to be a stabilisation.
However, the near €1.4m taken in by the layers on Thursday was an increase of over €350,000 last year and represents quite a striking jump so while trade was perhaps somewhat muted for the bookies initially there was much better news later in the week.
The situation for the Tote remains one of concern. Through the first three days of Galway the Tote took in just over €1.9 million as against €2.32 million 12 months ago. Interestingly, this year’s figure for the first three days doesn’t lie all that far off the €2.293 million that the corresponding three days would have yielded in 2014.
Significant input from international markets enabled the Tote to return growth in aggregates over a sustained period this decade, but this trend has gone into reverse after a ban on betting on horse racing in Israel. This has made for decidedly difficult times as exemplified by rollovers in the Pick 6 failing to generate anything like the level of interest and turnover that they did in previous years.
Ongoing struggle
The Thursday of Galway brought the Tote’s ongoing struggle into sharp focus. Twelve months ago the Tote took in over €1m on the Thursday but that figure slumped to just over €700,000 and on one of the biggest day’s betting in the year this has to be a figure of major concern especially when viewed alongside the gains made by the bookmakers.
Both the Tote and on course bookmakers are an integral part of the fabric of Irish racing but they continue challenges aplenty. A mixed week for on course layers showed signs of a notable upswing on Thursday but for the Tote the outlook appeared more stark on the evidence of this week.
How it recovers from the absence of the major input of the Israeli market and regains momentum surrounding bets like the Pick 6 looks a matter of some urgency.
ON a positive note, this week’s Festival was greatly enhanced by 48-hour declarations for both the Plate and the Hurdle. This change in procedure provided much greater certainty and clarity concerning the exact make up for both big races, with the line-up and riding arrangements for each contest set in stone well before each race.
Given that the Plate and Hurdle are jointly the second most valuable races in the National Hunt calendar it is entirely fitting that they should be treated differently and are afforded a greater build-up than other races. The use of 48-hour declarations for such marquee events represents a step in the right direction and perhaps there is something to be said for a further extension of this policy.
The first day of the Dublin Racing Festival is subject to 48 hour declarations, as is the opening leg of Irish Champions Weekend, while the Irish Grand National actually closes at a 72-hour stage. Given that such a procedure is in occasional use it won’t represent a huge sea change to extend its use further.
For major festivals such as this week’s meeting, 48-hour declarations could work well and would only add to the level of interest surrounding the fixture. Furthermore, there is something to be said for extending 48-hour declarations to all Grade A or six-figure handicaps over jumps. Surely the attention and focus that accompanies races like the Thyestes Chase would only be improved if the final field was known two days in advance.
A WEEK on from that stirring finish to the King George at Ascot much has been said about Enable’s neck success over Crystal Ocean where she had more to spare than the winning margin of neck would suggest.
Unquestionably John Gosden’s charge merits each and every superlative that has come her way. She now stands on the cusp of racing immortality should she achieve the hitherto unprecedented feat of a third straight Arc de Triomphe triumph this October.
After carrying all before her, Enable is deservedly being hailed as a great. This brings with it the discussion as to where she ranks among racing’s greats. However, this is a moot point as she has amassed a race record that is simply beyond reproach.
An 11-race winning streak, including nine Group 1s, six in open company, at eight tracks in four countries over two years and on a variety of different ground types represents a stunning feat. Such a race record belongs to an outstanding champion and where she ranks alongside others really doesn’t matter.