© Photo Healy Racing
Denis Egan is pleased to see an increase in the number of National Hunt riders' licences in Ireland but admits the fall in trainers' licences is very worrying following the release of Integrity Racing Statistics for 2017.
While jockeys' licences issued rose by 19 per cent, there was a 10.5 per cent fall in the number of trainers' licences.
Egan, chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: "It is pleasing to see that the recent trend of falling National Hunt riders' licences has been reversed. However, the fall in National Hunt trainers' licences for both full and restricted licences is very worrying with double-digit percentage falls being recorded in both categories.
"The total number of trainers' licences has fallen from 805 in 2007 to 578 in 2017 and is falling each year. This is an area that will have to be addressed."
The number of whip breaches also rose by 29 per cent, with Egan stating: "IHRB Directors may need to review the penalty guidelines as the current penalties are not having the desired effect."
While the number of vaccination breaches is up 63 per cent, Egan believes this is down to all passports now being checked on racedays.
Looking at handicap ratings, the number of hurdlers rated 130 is down 19 per cent, whereas the number of chasers rated above 130 rose 4.5 per cent.
