THE conclusion of various major festivals and the release of Horse Racing Ireland’s half yearly and annual figures tends to lead to plenty of examination and consideration of the state of the on-course bookmaking market and the challenges that it faces.

Thus the cumulative totals from Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival were keenly awaited and they revealed that the bookmakers turnover for the four days came in just over €3.25 million as against €3.41 million which was taken in 12 months previously.