Horse Racing Ireland has released their annual figures for 2015, with bloodstock sales increasing for the sixth consecutive year, HRI announced Monday. Racecourse attendance was just below the 2014 level with rough weather decreasing the number of patrons that turned out for racing by 0.7%. European Breeders Fund (EBF) sponsorship rose by 7.8%, while commercial sponsorship also increased to 7.5%. Tote Ireland continued to grow in 2015, with overall turnover rising by 29%.
HRI's Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh commented, “2015 represented the sixth consecutive year of growth, with Irish bloodstock sales of €152.5 million up 3.5% on the 2014 figures. The value of Irish-foaled exported horses sold through public auction grew to €267.7 million. This was a 16.7% increase on the previous year and Irish horses were exported to 33 different countries.”
HRI will increase prize-money by €3.1 million (5.8%) in 2016 for a total of €56.7 million, with the minimum race value in Ireland set at €9,000.
Added Kavanagh, “We continue to focus on improving the horses-in-training and ownership figures and the decline of recent years has started to slow down, which is positive. With additional increases in prize-money, further reductions in administrative costs and enhanced supports for trainers, we expect to see real progress in 2016.”
For the complete statistics and more information, go to www.goracing.ie.
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