Vincent Finegan questions 'unnecessary risk' the new Tipperary all-weather track poses Editor Vincent Finegan raised serious questions about the decision to build a new all-weather track in Tipperary - one that will be funded not by private investors but by Horse Racing Ireland itself through a major loan. He explained that the government has now given the green light for HRI to borrow €34 million to construct the track, and that this figure only covers phase one. As Vincent explained: "no one seems entirely clear yet on how many phases there will be or what the final cost could be, but the starting number alone is considerable." Sport could be left with a €34 million hole What troubles Vincent the most is the principle behind the funding model. Instead of relying on private money - as was the case with Dundalk nearly twenty years ago - the Tipperary project is being financed directly through HRI, meaning effectively that the sport itself is taking on the debt. Vincent contrasted the two approaches: "When Dundalk was built, private investors took the risk. If it worked, it worked; if it failed, the wider industry wouldn’t have been financially exposed. "With Tipperary, however, the risk is entirely different. If something goes wrong - whether due to economic factors, racing trends, or unforeseen events - racing as a whole could be left with a €34 million hole to fill." As Vincent emphasised, this isn’t merely a construction figure; it also includes the long-term obligation to repay interest on that loan for many years to come. He stressed that nobody can predict what challenges may arise in the future, and that burdening the sport with such substantial debt introduces unnecessary risk. While he acknowledged that an all-weather track may have benefits, he questioned whether this funding structure is fair or safe for the industry as a whole. Watch the full Irish Angle Show
