Learning from mistakes may not be compulsory but after yet another cock-up revolving around the determination of Irish racecourses to artificially water tracks, maybe it would be a good idea to remind everyone that Ireland’s climate is not the same as Chad’s. (more…)

“As Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, I am delighted to announce HRI’s Annual Report for 2020. It has been a year of huge increases in key indicator areas such as attendances, revenue and prizemoney. Irish racing’s finances have never been in a more healthy state. The following is a brief summation of how we have got here. (more…)

While it may be true that no one has any value in what they get for nothing, there is no doubt at all that people vote with their feet when it comes to paying too much. So it would be really interesting to see what the connection is between tumbling attendances and the cost of getting through the turnstiles at our racecourses. (more…)

It’s time to come on all Frank Sinatra and ask where are the wiseguys now: all those oracles who have been saying that Michael Kinane should have retired years ago, that he was embarrassing himself and taking some of the sheen off a glittering career by carrying on past his sell-by date. Suddenly it has got real quiet, hasn’t it? (more…)

Everyone remembers Henry Ford’s ‘history is bunk’ line but not many remember the old horse-hater’s more vehement elaboration on the subject.

“History is tradition and we don’t want tradition,” Ballinascarthy’s most famous mechanic declared. “We want to live in the present and the only history that’s worth a tinker’s damn is the history we made today.” (more…)