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.