HRI

Six-month statistics for horse racing and breeding in Ireland shows underlying growth in the industry despite the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report was released by Horse Racing Ireland on Thursday. The metrics of horses in training (+24%), owners (+23.9%), new owner (+31%),  runners (+23.8%), fixtures (+8.4%), and race numbers (+14.6) have all shown strong growth over the corresponding pre-pandemic figures for 2019. Attendance at Irish racecourses was the major area where figures suffered, as there has been no public attendance at any racemeeting in Ireland for...

The first winner of Horse Racing Ireland's IRE Incentive Scheme in Britain was Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) in the British European Breeders' Fund EBF Maiden S. at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Saturday. The owner, Michael Blencowe, was awarded a €10,000 IRE Incentive voucher to spend on Irish-breds at Irish sales because Imperial Fighter is an Irish-bred. The IRE Incentive Scheme has now awarded a total of €450,000 in Irish sales vouchers to 36 individual owners since its inception in March of 2021. Additional British-based races that will...

The last of a series of Oireachtas Hearings into horse racing in Ireland concluded on Tuesday with representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest to answer questions. The independence of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) was a topic of discussion among deputies. Representatives of the IHRB were involved in two sessions this month along with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), while the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association (IRTA) were also invited to meet the joint Oireachtas committee. This followed a number of high profile comments made...

Irish government officials appearing before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine have denied knowledge of former racehorses being transported for slaughter from Ireland to the UK. A BBC Panorama programme entitled The Dark Side of Horseracing, which aired on Monday evening, contained footage from cameras installed covertly by pressure group Animal Aid at Drury & Sons abattoir in Swindon. The images showed horses being killed in distressing fashion, including a number of former racehorses.  Three of the horses were formerly trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, who...

The first hearing of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board in front of a Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine began in Ireland on Thursday, with the IHRB defending itself rigorously. The IHRB has come under pressure recently regarding concerns over doping in Irish racing following Irish trainer Jim Bolger's claims in a newspaper interview that there would be a "Lance Armstrong" moment in the Irish industry. Irish Government committee members asked questions of Horse Racing Ireland's Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh, IHRB Chief Executive Denis Egan and IHRB Chief...

The second season of the "Horse Racing Heroes" podcast will be sponsored by Horse Racing Ireland. The podcast, which focuses on one equine hero per episode, is compiled and presented by racing fan Mark Walsh. Found on Apple Podcasts and on Spotify, the first episode of season two focused on Faugheen (Ire) (Germany), while the second episode out on July 7, is on Hardy Eustace (Ire) (Archway {Ire}). Yet to come are podcasts on Finian's Rainbow (Ire) (Tiraaz), Mister Benedictine (GB) (Mister Baileys {GB}), Brown Panther (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), The...

Funded through Horse Racing Ireland's Industry Education and Training Department, EQUUIP--the services offered through the Industry Assistance Programme (IAP)--have been re-configured to an Individual Assistance Programme and expanded to provide a racing and breeding specific support network. The IAP, offering support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year via phone and online chat, is confidential and free to use. The programme offers a wide variety of services including emotional support, financial advice, legal information, bereavement counseling and medical information. Originally launched in 2016, the IAP...

The value of the second running of the Irish EBF Ballyhane S. has been increased from €200,000 to €300,000, the Irish European Breeders' Fund, Ballyhane Stud and Horse Racing Ireland announced on Monday. The median auction race is now the most valuable 2-year-old race that will be held in Ireland in 2021, with the race aimed at EBF eligible 2-year-olds with a sire's median price of no more than €75,000 from last year's yearling sales. It will be conducted over five furlongs and 205 yards at Naas Racecourse on Bank...

Following Irish trainer Jim Bolger voicing his concerns on doping in Irish racing this past weekend, a strong statement against doping was issued by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday evening. The statement read: "Following comments made recently, the IHRB can once again stress there is a zero-tolerance approach to doping in Irish racing and we operate to the highest level using LGC Laboratories in Newmarket, who are one of five International Federation Horseracing Authorities certified laboratories in the world, and the same laboratory used by the British Horseracing...

Following a nationwide poll, interest in horse racing in Ireland has increased, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Wednesday. A poll of over 1,000 people, conducted by the Red C research company between Feb. 8-Feb. 15, aimed at understanding the adult population's attitudes toward horse racing. The results are as follows: In 2021, 39% of the population have an interest in horse racing versus 23% last year A total of 85% of racing fans are missing attending race meetings 19% of racing fans plan to attend more race meetings than previously...

RTE Sport and Horse Racing Ireland have agreed to a three-year broadcasting deal that will deliver a record 31 free-to-air live racing days in Ireland. The live racing broadcast days will rise to 32 in 2022 and 2023. Declan McBennett, group head of sport at RTE, said, "Horse racing is an integral part of the RTE Sport offering, and we are delighted to extend our partnership with Horse Racing Ireland and the racecourses. The trainers and jockeys in particular have proven repeatedly that they are at the very forefront of...

Brian Kavanagh, the first chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland appointed in 2001, will conclude his term with the organization at the end of his contract in September. HRI, the commercial semi-state body responsible for the overall governance, development, promotion and administration of thoroughbred racing in Ireland, will begin a recruitment campaign on Friday for the role of CEO. Nicky Hartery, chairman of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "I would like to thank Brian Kavanagh for 20 years of incredible service and deep commitment to Horse Racing Ireland and to...