Horse Racing Ireland

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is the governing body of horse racing on the island of Ireland. The HRI mission statement is "to develop and promote Ireland as a world centre of excellence for horse racing and breeding". Like most other sports, horse racing is run on an All Ireland basis, so Horse Racing Ireland is responsible for racing in both the Republic of Ireland, which has 24 racecourses, and in Northern Ireland, which has two racecourses. The remit of the British Horseracing Authority does not extend to Northern Ireland. HRI was founded in 2001, succeeding the Irish Horseracing Authority, the 1994 successor to the Racing Board founded in 1945.[1]

Navan Races in September 2007

In April 2020, Brian Kavanagh, the chief executive of HRI said that with the benefit of hindsight the 2020 Cheltenham Festival should not have taken place.[2]

Business

In addition to fulfilling regulatory and promotional functions, Horse Racing Ireland owns Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary racecourses. The group's chairperson since May 2018 has been Nicky Hartery[3] and its CEO is Brian Kavanagh.

The industry contributes significantly to the Irish economy. Bloodstock sales, Tote betting and racecourse attendances produced significant growth in 2011, figures issued by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) show. This marks a positive upturn for the industry which had suffered severe contraction since 2007 across almost all areas.[4] In 2004 this contribution was estimated to be in the region of €330 million euros.[5]

References
  1. About Us Irish Horseracing Authority
  2. Cooney, Gavin (29 April 2020). "Irish horse racing chief says Cheltenham festival should probably not have taken place". The42.ie. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  3. Forristal, Richard (24 May 2018). "Stud owner Nicky Hartery appointed new chairman of Horse Racing Ireland". Racing Post. CenturyComm. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  4. "Horse Racing Ireland issues 2011 industry statictics". GoRacing.ie. Horse Racing Ireland. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  5. "O'Donoghue receives Report on Economic Value of the Horse Racing and Bloodstock Breeding Industry". Press release. Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. 21 July 2004. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
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