Several key indicators were on the rise in Ireland, with the first six months of statistics released by Horse Racing Ireland Monday. Owners syndicates are up 14%, with overall active owners up 2.6% compared to the same period last year. Field sizes were up 7.5% to 11.5 runners from 10.7, while individual runners were also up 4% to 4,971. Horses-in-training also ticked up 0.5% to 7,057.
“The growth in entries, runners and active owners is welcome,” said Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland. “Horse Racing Ireland has invested significantly in broadening the ownership base in Ireland, providing marketing support for our trainers, as well as introducing further measures to reduce ownership costs. Significantly, the first half of 2017 saw an 8.4% increase in prizemoney and a 6% increase in sponsorship. Healthy increases in runners and field sizes are very positive, and the recovery in the National Hunt sphere hinted at the end of 2016 has taken hold. The buoyancy of the recent store sales and the active role played by Irish owners and trainers at those sales is testament to this, and bodes well for further growth in the future.”
Attendance indicators were down, with total attendance off 3.8% at 519,425, average attendance down 3.2% at 3,206 and fixtures also decreased 1.2% to 162. One of the factors adversely affecting attendance was the limited attendance at The Curragh for the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, which is undergoing redevelopment.
Betting indicators were a mixed bag, with total Tote betting (+9% to €48.2m), off-course Tote (Irish Pools +12.1% to €40.8m), and off-course Tote (International Pools +3.3% to €3.1m) all rising. On-course Tote, on-course bookmaker betting and total on-course betting all dropped, -10.4% to €4.3m, -5.8% to €29.5m and 6.4% to €33.8m, respectively during the same time period.
For the full statistics and more information, please go to www.goracing.ie.
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