Turnover rise for on-course betting in Ireland after attendance boost

Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh has cited an increase in attendances as an influential factor in the 6.6 per cent rise in betting ring turnover recorded during 2019, stemming the tide of an 11 per cent drop for on-course bookmakers the previous year.

Such improvement was not evidenced in Tote Ireland's annual turnover, which fell by by just one per cent on course but suffered a greater reverse overall with a 13 per cent (€9 million) drop due to a significant dip in international money bet off course into Irish pools.

The beleaguered Tote model is currently undergoing a review by HRI, with options of a full or partial sale being discussed.

The 2018 drop in attendances of 0.5 per cent to 1.274 million was reversed in 2019, up 3.2 per cent to 1.315 million.

Following the release of the 2019 Irish horseracing and breeding industry statistics, Kavanagh said: "It was very encouraging to see the betting ring return a 6.6 per cent increase year-on-year.

"Obviously increased attendances mean more potential customers for on-course bookmakers, but it is clear also that people see the on-course bookmakers as a part of the atmosphere of a day at the races and enjoy the service and interaction that goes along with having a bet with them and with the Tote at the races."

Brian Kavanagh: encouraged by betting ring returnsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He added of a challenging year for the Tote: "The Board of Horse Racing Ireland received a full presentation on future options for Tote Ireland.

"All options are being considered and we will revert with a recommended position in the coming months. The decision will reflect what we believe is the best option for Irish racing."

A doubling in the rate of betting tax from one to two per cent saw off-course betting duty receipts collected by the government in 2019 amount to €95 million (up 81.6 per cent from €52.3 million). The improved revenue, which HRI had forecast would follow the hike in duty, meant for the first time that these receipts exceeded the Exchequer funding provided for racing of €67.2 million.

Kavanagh added: "Last year was a good one for Irish racing. However the industry requires long-term certainty of funding to be able to plan strategically, not least in the context of the challenges provided by Brexit."

He also said that efforts to forge a long-term funding solution will be redoubled.

"The increased revenue from betting tax provides the basis for such a long-term funding mechanism and Horse Racing Ireland will engage actively with the incoming government to achieve this objective."

HRI recorded another strong year with new owner registrations, seeing an increase of 6.8 per cent to 851, which followed the theme of 2018's statistics that saw a 16.2 per cent rise from 686 to 797.

Of the new registrations, 216 are syndicates spread among 110 different trainers.

Kavanagh said: "The rise in owners was reflected in an increase in horses in training, both for the number of individual runners in 2019 (5.7 per cent) and for the number of total runners on the track (5.4 per cent)."

The bloodstock sales sector saw a minor resurgence after a €14.1 million drop in 2018, increasing by €3.8 million last year, which is still €10.3 million short of the 2017 figure of €175.6 million.

Bloodstock sales rose by €3.8 million last year but are still below the 2017 statisticsCredit: Edward Whitaker

The value of Irish-foaled exported horses sold through auction was a positive outcome, up 6.1 per cent from €263.1 million to €279.1 million.

Kavanagh added: "These figures are all the more welcome given the damaging uncertainty in the market created by Brexit."

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