Irish Racing on Target for Record Attendance in 2006 Irish racing attendances grew by almost 10,000 in the first six months of 2006.This puts the sport on target to exceed the all-time record attendance figure of 1.43 million achieved in 2005. The half-year figures, released by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), show continuing buoyancy in racing despite the counter-attractions of the World Cup and a run of bad weather which saw over fifteen meetings, principally in May, cancelled. On-course bookmaker betting grew by ?3.7 million to almost ?82 million while the Tote grew by ?0.6 million to ?21.4 million. Sponsors continue to respond enthusiastically to racing's growing popularity, increasing their investment in the sport by 3% to ?3.5 million. Prize-money increased by ?0.6 million to ?24.2 million. The key performance figures are as follows: - Total Attendance 559,046 up 9,801 +1.8% * Total Tote Betting ?21.4m up ?0.6m +2.8% ** Total Sponsorship ?3.6m up ?113,150 +3.1% Total Bookmaker Betting ?81.8m up ?3.7m +4.7% (on-course) Total fixtures (ex NI) 133 down 2 -1.5% Total no of races 1,021 down 18 -1.7% Total runners 14,605 down 53 -0.3% Total Prize money ?24.2m up ?0.6m +2.6% * Attendances quoted are up to and including the 2nd July because in 2006 two days of the Derby Festival fell in July, whereas all three days in 2005 were in June ** Tote turnover for 06 includes, for the first time, co-mingling from At The Races (ATR) and the French Tote (PMU) which produced additional revenues of ?0.5m. The highlight performance of the year to date was the Punchestown Festival which grew by 10% to achieve a record attendance of 85,000. Friday the 29th April provided both the biggest crowd of the festival at over 29,000, up 16%, and one of the races of the year with Mac's Joy beating old rival Brave Inca in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle. The meeting also provided a reminder of Ireland's record Cheltenham and Aintree successes with winning displays from Newmill, War Of Attrition, Nicanor and Asian Maze. Ireland's National Hunt achievements were honored by the Government at a reception in Farmleigh hosted by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism on June 12th which also saw Denis Brosnan, Chairman of HRI, acknowledge the positive approach of the Government to the industry. Flat racing's main event ? The Budweiser Irish Derby Festival, also achieved record attendances for the three days of over 47,000 people. The success of Dylan Thomas gave trainer Aidan O'Brien his fourth Irish Derby victory, complimenting his achievement in winning the English 2000 Guineas and Oaks with George Washington and Alexandrova respectively. Commenting on the figures, Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) said: 'The strength of our racing festivals under-pin this good performance in what we always knew would be a very competitive year. The growth of media coverage and expansion of betting platforms, together with a generally competitive sporting environment means that racecourses must work hard to retain existing customers and recruit new ones. Racing is attracting a new audience through marketing campaigns focused on younger people, fashion and families; improved facilities at racecourses and, most of all, through the great achievements of our trainers, jockeys and horses'. 'We have some of Irish racing's main summer highlights to look forward to, beginning with the Darley Oaks at the Curragh this Sunday, the Killarney Festival, the Ladbrokes Midlands National at Kilbeggan, the incomparable Galway Festival, Tralee, Laytown, the Shelbourne Hotel Goffs Million Day at the Curragh in September as well as Listowel's Harvest Festival meeting. I am confident that we will continue to grow attendances and enjoy great racing at these and all our other meetings for the rest of the year'.
