Now here’s an opportunity. Racing has a ministerial blank canvas in Simon Coveney. He admits to not having an in-depth knowledge of the industry but remarkably he actually seems determined to change the administrative face of the game and is open to persuasion in how to do it. And that could provide a rare chink of light for punters. (more…)

Contained in this current national ‘putting our shoulders to the patriotic wheel’ theme is an assumption that if things get better economically, stuff we are currently doing without will be restored. Mostly the sad reality is that once government taketh, it rarely if ever giveth back. But amazingly this government looks ready to give to racing. And while every branch of the industry will have its hand out, surely integrity has to be the priority for 2012. (more…)

Ahead of the budget it’s hard not to suspect there may be some roosting sounds at Horse Racing Ireland HQ. It might be months since the HRI board thumbed its nose at Government over bonus payments but chicken can be pretty tasty served cold too. Racing’s big hope must be that the budget response isn’t downright frosty. (more…)