HRI Announces Half-Year Figures - Attendances up marginally to 602,761 ? - Record numbers of fixtures, races and runners ? - Betting turnover down but Tote only marginally by 1% - - Welcome drop in number of horses balloted out of races - - HRI to extend Quality Control Measures for 2009 ? - Racecourse Development Programme Continuing - Attendances at Irish race meetings grew by 1,743 in the first six months of 2008. This puts horse racing on target to achieve a new record figure of 1.5 million racegoers by the end of the year. For the first time, these figures incorporate attendance data for the two racecourses in the North (figures included for both years). However, it should be noted that this increase was achieved from a higher number of fixtures and the average attendance per meeting declined from 4,116 to 3,767 (-8.5%). Punchestown?s National Hunt Festival in April was the star performer in terms of increased racecourse attendances, growing its overall attendance from 90,868 at the four-day meeting in 2007 to 105,669 over the five days in 2008, with a remarkable figure of 19,512 attracted to the Saturday for its first year of inclusion within the Festival. The half-year figures, which were released by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) today, also show continuing growth in many of the key performance indicators measured by the industry. The number of fixtures (+9.6%), races (+8.6%), total runners (+8.3%) and individual runners (+6.4%) have all increased year-on-year, as have the number of horses in training returned so far in 2008 (+3.3%). Despite a small drop in race sponsorship, prize money still grew overall by 6.6% to ?27m. One area where the economic downturn has been more evident is in relation to betting turnover. The Tote has seen a modest decline of just 1% in total turnover, but on-course bookmakers have fared worse, recording a near 14% drop in their turnover compared to last year. A very welcome decrease relates to the number of horses that have been balloted out of races. At the half year, the number of eliminations has dropped by 17.8% compared to 2007 reflecting additional quality control measures implemented by HRI this year. Commenting on the figures, Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) said:- ?Against a challenging economic background, horse racing has been able to maintain its overall level of attendance in the first six months of 2008 and the Tote?s turnover is virtually on a par with last year. Although there is anecdotal evidence that trainers are starting to see a decline in horse numbers, this is not reflected in the figures for the year to date. In the month of June there were 7,320 horses in training compared to 7,176 for the same month last year. Nonetheless, HRI recognises that there is likely to be a downturn in horse numbers as the year progresses?. Brian Kavanagh continued: ?One of the most pleasing aspects of the year has been the significant improvement in the balloting situation, which whilst still problematic, has seen an almost 18% decline in the total number of eliminations at the half year point. However, further progress is still required and HRI has therefore taken the decision to extend its quality control efforts by increasing the minimum qualifying rating under both codes for 2009 ? from 45 to 47 for the flat and from 77 to 80 for hurdle races.? Commenting on Capital Development he said ?Considerable progress continues to be made in terms of improving facilities throughout the island. HRI?s new Racecourse Improvements Scheme provides 75% grant aid of up to ?250,000 per qualifying racecourse. These funds are for projects prioritised by HRI and take independent quality control reports produced by the AA into account. This Scheme will see ongoing refurbishments and upgrades this year at a number of racecourses including Ballinrobe, Bellewstown, Downpatrick, Down Royal, Kilbeggan, Killarney, Naas, Navan, Sligo, Tipperary and Wexford. In addition, HRI has approved a number of major capital development programmes for grant aid of 55% under the Racecourse Capital Development Scheme. This includes a new second stand in Cork, a new stable yard at Naas and an improved main entrance, car park and turnstile building for Fairyhouse. Watering systems have also been grant aided for purchase by a number of racecourses, most notably Galway, to ensure the safest possible racing surface.? Looking to the future, Brian Kavanagh noted that a number of major projects are due to be considered for grant aid by HRI, including the development of an entirely new, re-located racecourse in Tramore (where work on the racetrack itself is already well advanced), the planned ?100m redevelopment of the Curragh, a new weigh room in Roscommon and improvements to both the car parks and general facilities at Limerick. On the track, 2008 has once again been a very successful year both domestically and internationally for Irish horses, owners, trainers and jockeys, with welcome overseas victories at Cheltenham, Aintree, Newmarket and Epsom. The 2008 flat season in particular has seen Irish horses dominating at the major European meetings, and this was capped recently with eight victories at Royal Ascot where Irish horses triumphed in every Group 1 race apart from the two sprints. In conclusion, Brian Kavanagh stressed: ?The on-going international success of Irish horse racing is due to the continued support of the Government through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. It is no coincidence that since the introduction of the Fund in 2001, the consistent success of Irish racing has increased. The renewal of the Fund this year is a priority for the industry and HRI continues to believe that the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund should be self-financing. Given the economic circumstances, HRI believe that betting duty is the most appropriate source to relieve the Exchequer of the need to augment the Fund, as was originally intended when it was enacted in 2001. HRI believes that the Fund can be and should be fully financed from betting duty and we are working closely with Government to put in place ways in which this can be achieved as soon as possible.?
