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“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.(1) Crowds going through the gates of Ireland’s racecourses have never been greater. Overall figures dwarf those of twenty years ago. Of course the vast majority have no interest in racing but are instead entering our track casinos – or ‘racinos’ – in order to play the slots and the multitudinous other ways to gamble in our ultra-modern hotel and leisure complexes.The result is that most of our customers now have their backs to the action on the racecourse. But the revenue stream is massive enough to more than justify the government decision to grant casino licences to HRI in return for an end to state subsidies which had proven an electoral disaster for our political allies.(2) The move to reducing Ireland’s racecourse population to just ten tracks has been hugely beneficial despite any outcry there may have been when we announced our decision ten years ago. The reduction has been more gradual than ideal but vitally we are now able to concentrate our resources.(3) Central to that has been the move to all-weather racing. All eight of our flat tracks are exclusively polytrack, allowing low-cost usage all year round and providing a uniformity of surface that allows our horses compete with the best from all around the world where all-weather is now the primary surface as well.(4) Ireland’s position as the last major bastion of National Hunt racing is regrettably coming under more and more pressure with just two tracks still operable. Public outcry at the fatality levels over jumps that began in Australia over a decade ago is now firmly rooted in this country too. Despite extensive advertising campaigns to counter false-information, jump racing continues to face an uphill battle.(5) Initial attempts to introduce discussions on the possibilities of a Tote monopoly were rebuffed with such ferocity by the bookmaking lobby that they have been shelved indefinitely. Legislatively there are too many obstacles to emulate the off-course bookmaking model that works so well in Australia. However enough political will has been exerted to substantially increase payments from the major chains and internet firms in return for leaving them more or less alone.(6) One result of more bookmaker revenue is the format of our race programmes. Cards containing a dozen races are now routine, mostly beginning at nine o’clock at night in order to maximise betting opportunities for internet and phone betting. Such timing also coincides with increased traffic at out ‘racinos’ from those parties on a night out.(7) One unfortunate development we have not been able to counter is the continuing decline in terrestrial television coverage of racing. The domestic state broadcaster now televises just one race day a year – the Ballybirt Derby at Galway.However the good news is that a five minute slot for the race has been guaranteed, separate from the normal two hour coverage of the best dressed lady competition. Another boost is the agreement between HRI and RTE to pay Hector O’hEochagain per ‘upyboya’ on a fifty-fifty basis.(8) Finally, I am delighted to be able to announce the discovery of some rare and exotic survivors of the on-course bookmaker tribe. Previously thought to be completely extinct, a small cluster have been found running wild on the Beara Peninsula, staring resentfully out to sea, muttering how seals contribute nothing and occasionally wailing inconsolably at the price of beef rolls.The plan is to capture them, parade the calmer ones at various events until they expire, and then preserve them in formaldehyde and ethanol as mementos of another, and dare I say it, simpler time.Is mise les meas.”
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Excellent Brian!!!!!
I am particularly drawn to the 5 minutes for the race and 2 hours for the best dressed lady competition.
Could we all take a close look at this weekends Derby meeting coverage on RTE and watch out for the dated,tired and totally useless format which hasn’t changed for close on 10 years. The sponsors may have changed during this time but the package stays the same-seldom do we have a full list of runners-even more seldom is an up to date betting show,while all RTE want to do is interview celebs who wouldn’t know a horse from a sheep!
And Brian is correct, more time will be spent with the best dressed competition than will be covering the races themselves.
I will stop now,but,I am looking forward to Brian having a discussion on TV coverage of racing because I have plenty more to say about that!!!!!!
Comment by Paul — June 22, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
As a huge contributor to the “upyboya” wail in Galway for the last number of years I would definitely feel entitled to at least 10% of that arrangement between hector & RTE. Brian, if you could see fit in incorporating this somewhere i would really appreciate it….
On a more serious note.. Dynamite stuff! major “big up” also to the prediction of a Sea the Stars Newmarket Epsom double in last January’s Irish Times!! Had a nice few quid on it which has eased the recessionary blues somewhat…..
Comment by jumpedwelltravelledsuper — June 22, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
“Ireland’s position as the last major bastion of National Hunt racing is regrettably coming under more and more pressure with just two tracks still operable”
I really think that the supporters of National Hunt far outnumber the supporters of Flat Racing in Ireland and that Classic Crowds are swelled by the members of the prawn sandwich brigade who want to be seen.
I strongly agree with some of your other statements but probably not to the same extreme extent.
If it ever got to the stage when Ireland had just 2 NH courses it would be a very sad for the proletariat of Ireland and once again further evidence of how some members of the bourgeois society will continue to destroy the raw cultural heritage and traditions of a formerly proud nation.
Comment by Terence Mc Cartan — June 23, 2009 @ 2:06 am
Racing is suffering from schizophrenia. On one hand it still portrays itself as the ‘Sport of Kings’ the world leader in everything equine while at the same time it suffers from an inferiority complex whereby it believes the product is dull and inferior and needs to be enhanced by fashion shows and Hector.
The industry needs to re-discover its roots and look at the example set by point to point racing which is probably more popular now than at any time in the past.
People don’t need glitz and glamour to have a good time. Racing must stand on its own two feet and not be propped up by government or embellished with accessories.
Comment by Jimmy — June 23, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
RTE’s Racing Coverage
Symbiosis!
Ruby Walsh dismounts from another winner, is congratulated by Jennifer Walsh (his sister and agent), is chaperoned (30 paces) by Jennifer Walsh to the RTE stand to be greeted by Ted Walsh (his father) and Robert Hall (old mate).
For Ruby Walsh, substitute Paul Carberry, Davy Russell, etc.
A posing, posturing, eyelash-fluttering, Tracy Piggottt smiles coquettishly up into the face of Willie Mullins before the race. A posing, posturing, eyelash-fluttering, Tracy Piggott smiles coquettishly up into the face of Willie Mullins after the race. The same banal queries, the same meaningless congratulations over and over again. Never a challenging question. Never a hint of criticism. (Don’t rock the boat! Don’t bite the hand that feeds!)
(For Willie Mullins, substitute Dermot Weld (Galway), Noel Meade, Aidan O’Brien, etc.)
A scrum of servile media scribblers surround the winning trainer after every race, obediently recording his/her every utterance, however vacuous. Never a challenging question. Never a hint of criticism. (Don’t rock the boat! Don’t bite the hand that feeds!)
(For Willie Mullins, substitute Dermot Weld (Galway), Noel Meade, Aidan O’Brien, etc.)
Everyone reads from the same tired-old script race after race, meeting after meeting, year after year.
They all work together; they all socialise together; they all holiday together.
They all appear to be related to one another (blood, marriage, school, romance).
Ted Walsh appears to know every single one of them - breed, seed and generation.
All looking after one another. All singing from the same threadbare hymn sheet.
Symbiosis - A mutually advantageous association or relationship between persons. (Oxford Concise English Dictionary)
A good name for an Irish horse!
Keep an eye on Coolmore.
Comment by Gerard — June 23, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
Oh Gerard how right you are!
And watch out for this,following each race the winning jockey is interviewed,this isn’t too bad when a different jockey wins, at least we can listen to what he or she has to say ( by the way Ted always says the same things about them ” he’s very popular in the weighroom or he’s a good young lad who has a big future or he’s a great horse man”)but,when the same jockey ie Ruby Walsh or Johnny Murtagh is interviewed race after race is just gets boring.Cast your mind back to Leopardstown when Ryan Moore won the first 2 or 3 races,Robert Hall interviewed him after each one, now Moore who is not the most jovial charachter looked totally peeved to be answering the same questions every half hour!!!
Returning to the Curragh, a couple of weeks back Tommy Stack had a first time runner,its name was Clashnacree which just happened to be owned by a syndicate which included Bertie Ahern and some of the Westlife lads,the horse ran a good race and finished 2nd not beaten very far,at the presentation of prizes to the winning connections, the PA announcer made a point of congratulating Bertie & Co on their fine run with their first venture into horse ownership-to say that my blood boiled would be an understatement,not because I have anything against Bertie and the lads,but because they were being singled out for special mention by the ‘brown tongue brigade’ because of who they were.
I myself have had a couple of runners at the Curragh indeed my first ever runner was there,it finished down the field-was my name announced by the PA announcer? was it hell!
This is the same PA announcer who this weekend will be going on and on about ‘TEAM BALLYDOYLE’!!!
I’ve heard it said it’s hard to break into the inner circle of Irish Racing,but,from what I can see it’s twice as hard to break out of it!!!
answering the same questions every half hour!!
Comment by Paul — June 24, 2009 @ 12:02 am
Pretty nice post. I just came across your site and wanted to say
that I have really liked reading your posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!
Comment by Lacy — June 24, 2009 @ 7:11 am
“The result is that most of our customers now have their backs to the action on the racecourse”. The business model. Isn’t that how ptown grew to provide all those grade 1s, terrestial tv coverage, huge attendances and betting turnover and e50m to the local economy. Racing Post reports Cheltenham ‘not against’ the idea of the festival running wed - sat if that is what the market wants. Or would we all sooner go to empty, decaying racecourses with half-frozen ageing racegoers - the very ones who deserve better? Maybe some change is good? people are voting with their feet already. any compromises or alternatives? Or will it all sort itself out?
Comment by Sean — June 25, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Paul,
Get your facts straight, the Curragh PA announcer on the May Bank Holiday meeting that went on about Bertie & Co is not “the same PA announcer who this weekend will be going on and on about ‘TEAM BALLYDOYLE’!!!” at the Derby. Facts before fiction. The one that will be doing the Derby and all classics is actually top class and does not fall under the “brown tongue brigade” banner as you so elequoently put it. Also, when he does his interviews he strays away from the normal mundane questions that are usually put to the Jockey/Trainer but holds interesting enlightening chats.
Comment by James — June 28, 2009 @ 12:23 am
James,
I have to agree whole heartedly. He conducts an unbiased, informative interview, giving an insight into what we racegoers would not normally know or hear of. Well said James.
Comment by PH — June 28, 2009 @ 12:26 am
PH,
Thanks very much PH. I’m not the only racegoer who stands round the parade ring thinking the same then. Did you hear him interviewing Ryan Moore last year after Promising Lead won the Pretty Polly, he made him laugh!! Beat that Tracy, Robert and Clare B. Its hard to believe he is as confident too with these superstars of racing as he cant be more than about 23/24.
Comment by James — June 28, 2009 @ 12:29 am
James,
I did hear the interview. It was an achievment to get him to speak, let alone laugh. What do you fancy tomorrow in the Derby?
Comment by PH — June 28, 2009 @ 12:31 am
PH,
I really am sweet on Masterofthehorse. I think Dahindar in the Scurry each way and Love Lockdown. You?
Comment by James — June 28, 2009 @ 12:32 am
James,
I would have to go for Golden Sword. Apparently he couldn’t really handle Epsom, but who knows? Maybe Byzantine? Or not.
Comment by PH — June 28, 2009 @ 12:34 am
Hi James you may well be right,but,with the sound system so bad in the Curragh all these sound the same,but,I can’t agree that he is ‘top class’! Anyway as you seem to know so much about him,can you enlighten us mere mortals as to who he is and what connections he has???
Comment by Paul — June 28, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
What a woderful post by Gerard, never have I heard such a truer reflection of Irish Horseracing and so brilliantly put.
Symbiosis: in laymans terms GRAVY TRAIN!
Comment by Patrick — July 1, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Wonderful even!
Comment by Patrick — July 1, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
All areas of Irish life run on nepotism - try RTE or the law library or the Dáil. The march of the marketing man is unstoppable. There was a string of press articles in the eighties about the inexorable decline of racing. Maybe the truth is that it will always do well in good times and suffer in bad.
Comment by Andrew — July 5, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Changing the subject from drugs in racing. Surely at this stage the
HRI, Should be aware that the Curragh is staging racing
for the remainder of the flat season, as when one looks at the fixture
list in the racing calendar on July 2nd The Curragh is nowhere to be
seen from the 26th. July, just another example of the standards
racegoers can expect from Irish Racing. Maybe they will print a
correct fixture list next week before some unfortunate racegoer
turns up at Naas on August 30th. instead of The Curragh.
Comment by John — July 8, 2009 @ 5:42 pm