HRI announce 2015 industry statistics HRI Press Release Irish bloodstock sales increased for the sixth consecutive year and exports for the fifth consecutive year in 2015. Tote Ireland also experienced a fifth consecutive year of growth, with turnover up 29%. Racecourse attendances were almost on par with 2014, having lost the gains made in the first half of the year to the extreme weather conditions in the autumn and winter. European Breeders Fund (EBF) sponsorship grew by 7.8% and commercial sponsorship continued its recovery, growing by 7.5%. This background of growth and consolidation has not yet been reflected in the areas of horses-in-training, ownership and race entries, although entries and runners in Irish Flat racing have improved year-on-year. 2015 Sales - Bloodstock Sales up 3.5% from E147.4m to E152.5m - Export Sales up 16.7% from E229.4m to E267.7m HRI Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh, said: "2015 represented the sixth consecutive year of growth, with Irish bloodstock sales of E152.5m up 3.5% on the 2014 figures. "Irish-bred horses continue to dominate at the highest levels internationally and the value of Irish-foaled exported horses sold through public auction grew to E267.7m. "This was a 16.7% increase on the previous year and Irish horses were exported to 33 different countries." Entries and Runners - Flat Entries up 4.6% from 24,014 to 25,119 - National Hunt Entries down 7.2% from 31,977 to 29,681 - Total Entries down 2% from 55,991 to 54,880 - Flat Runners up 2.7% from 11,259 to 11,560 - National Hunt Runners down 4.5% from 16,217 to 15,488 - Total Runners down 1.6% from 27,476 to 27,048 - Average field size down 2.8% from 11 to 10.7 Horses-in-Training and Ownership - Horses-in-Training down 4.6% from 8,613 to 8,214 - Owners down 2.6% from 3,706 to 3,609 - New Owners down 2.4% from 660 to 644 Brian Kavanagh commented: "We continue to focus on improving the horses-in-training and ownership figures and the decline of recent years has started to slow down, which is positive. "With additional increases in prize-money, further reductions in administrative costs and enhanced supports for trainers, we expect to see real progress in 2016. "It is encouraging to see a return to growth in the number of Flat entries, but National Hunt entries need stimulation. "This year we will provide E100,000 to support the ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme, which has the objective of encouraging the sales of National Hunt fillies and also their being put into training in Ireland." The bonus scheme provides payments to the winning owner of qualified fillies/mares of E5,000 if winning a mares-only maiden bumper, maiden hurdle or beginners chase, giving each owner the potential to win E15,000. 2015 Betting: - Total Tote Betting up 28.7% from E61.6m to E79.9m On-Course Betting - Bookmaker Betting (ring) down 1.4% from E70.3m to E69.3m - On-Course SP Shops up 9.3% from E9.7m to E10.6m - On-Course Tote Betting down 6.3% from E14.2m to E13.3m - Total On-Course Betting down 1.1% from E94.2m to E93.2m Tote Ireland showed continued growth in 2015, with overall turnover rising 29% to almost E80m. Total Tote turnover has grown by more than 50% since 2012. The growth during 2015 was driven by international markets where demand for pool betting on Irish racing continues to be strong and this is expected to continue in 2016. Total on-course betting was marginally down although there were contrasting performances between the betting ring, which was down 1.4%, and on-course betting shops, which were up by 9.3%. 2015 Attendances and Fixtures: - Total Attendances down 0.7% from 1.29m to 1.28m - Average Attendances down 1.8% from 3,704 to 3,636 - Fixtures up 1.2% from 347 to 351 Racecourse attendance was down slightly after a year of extremely wet weather, which saw ten rescheduled meetings as opposed to one in 2014. Weather affected many of the key festivals including Punchestown, Galway, Killarney, Longines Irish Champions Weekend, Listowel and the Christmas meetings at Leopardstown and Limerick. Attendance in the final month of the year alone was down almost 18,000 after the wettest December on record. 2015 Prize-money and sponsorship: - Prize-money up 9.9% from E49.6m to E53.4m - Commercial Sponsorship up 7.5% from E4m to E4.3m HRI will increase prize-money by E3.1 million (or 5.8%) in 2016 from E53.4 million to E56.7 million. This follows a E5 million (10%) increase in prize-money in 2015. The absolute minimum race value in Ireland will be increased from E8,000 to E9,000. Brian Kavanagh commented: "We are building on our commitment to increase prize-money and to reduce administrative costs for owners and trainers. "Competitive levels of prize-money will help us to attract and retain owners, which remains our top priority. "The growth in commercial sponsorship shows that confidence in racing’s appeal for a large portion of the sporting public remains strong and we expect further gains in 2016." Brian Kavanagh continued: "Irish-bred and trained horses were to the fore on the world stage in 2015. The Cheltenham Festival was a great success with Irish trainers responsible for 13 winners. "Willie Mullins set a new record with eight winners over the four days bringing his total number of winners at the Festival to 41. "There were six Irish-trained winners at the Aintree Festival and Irish trainers kept all 12 Grade 1 races at Punchestown at home. "On the Flat, Aidan O’Brien captured a record-equalling seventh Newmarket 2,000 Guineas victory with Gleneagles and won the Investec Oaks with Qualify, while David Wachman gained his first English Classic success when Legatissimo won the 1,000 Guineas. "Eight Irish-trained winners at Royal Ascot matched the best-ever tally achieved on four previous occasions. "Eight of the 12 Group 1 races run in Ireland were won by Irish-trained horses including three of the five domestic Classics."
