Brian Kavanagh

Brian Kavanagh, the first chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland appointed in 2001, will conclude his term with the organization at the end of his contract in September. HRI, the commercial semi-state body responsible for the overall governance, development, promotion and administration of thoroughbred racing in Ireland, will begin a recruitment campaign on Friday for the role of CEO. Nicky Hartery, chairman of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "I would like to thank Brian Kavanagh for 20 years of incredible service and deep commitment to Horse Racing Ireland and to...

The IRE Incentive Scheme, which sets out to stimulate and fortify Irish Thoroughbred breeding, racing and sales, has been launched by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI). The scheme will award a bonus of €10,000 to any owner of Irish-bred winners of 150 selected races across the Irish Flat and National Hunt programmes which may then be redeemed at bloodstock auctions in Ireland. The first nominated race takes place Friday at Dundalk. Qualifying races will include 2-year-old fillies' maidens; 2-year-old auction maidens and median auction races; 3-year-old median auction maidens; and National...

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was laid bare in Irish racing's 2020 figures, which were revealed by Horse Racing Ireland on Friday. The resilience of owners was a rare bright spot, with ownership remaining static and down just 0.5% in a year where owners largely could not go racing. Owner retention from 2019 to 2020 stood at 73.6%, down 1.5% from the previous year, and the number of racing clubs rose 6%. The number of horses in training in Ireland also rose for the fourth time in five years,...

Following the news that the Irish Government has banned UK travel, no Irish-trained horses or Irish jockeys will compete in the UK through Dec. 31, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. The travel ban will expire on New Year's Eve. In addition, declarations for UK-trained horses to race in Ireland will not be accepted during that time frame. "The concern from Government is very clear: these are exceptional times and a travel ban with the UK is a once-in-a-generation occurrence," said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. "Irish racing...

Horse Racing Ireland's 2021 budget has been approved, with measures to combat the threats of COVID-19 and Brexit key among the priorities. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, "The HRI budget for 2021 is set in the context of two lifetime challenges hitting the sector simultaneously and the priority is to shield the industry from the impacts of both Covid-19 and Brexit, while being cognisant of the welfare of our horses and the people that work with them. Thanks to the effort of many, the finances of...

Owners in Ireland are once again banned from watching their runners in person, as Irish racing will continue behind closed doors due to the coronavirus. The Irish government moved the whole country to level three restrictions on Monday evening following an Irish Cabinet meeting with chief medical officer Dr. Tony Holohan earlier in the day. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had recommended all of Ireland be placed under level five restrictions for the next four weeks. Under level five restrictions all organised sports are halted. Prior to tonight's...

Crowds of up to 500 people will be possible at Irish racecourses, after the Irish government announced the latest COVID-19 rules on Tuesday. Ireland is at stage 2 in the government's coronavirus alert, which allows for 200 more people at racecourses than previously. If Ireland reaches stage 1, 500 people would allowed, up from 200. If the pandemic worsens and reaches stage 3 or stage 4 in the new grading system, racing would once again go behind closed doors. At stage 5, racing, along with other sports, would cease. "It's...

Overseas jockeys will be permitted to bypass Ireland's 14-day quarantine requirement to ride on Group 1 cards, with the Irish government granting an exemption for elite athletes and sportspeople ahead of Irish Champions Weekend next weekend. Irish jockeys traveling overseas to ride in Group 1s will also be exempt from quarantine upon return. "We have had a change in the government protocols concerning sportspeople and athletes published today, but it is very much on a case-by-case basis," confirmed Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Officer Brian Kavanagh. "It will be limited...

Goffs will stage its Orby and Sportsman's Sales at its Goffs UK sales complex in Doncaster this year rather than at Kildare Paddocks in Ireland. The dates for the sales have also been slightly adjusted; the Sportsman's Sale has been moved a week earlier to Sept. 24 and 25, while the Orby Sale will take place slightly later than planned on Oct. 1 and 2 to allow buyers who wish to attend Books 1 and 2 of Keeneland September to self-isolate for two weeks before traveling to Doncaster. The location...

The Irish government has extended its racing-behind-closed-doors policy until at least Sept. 13, Racing Post reported on Tuesday. As a result, owners remain barred from Irish courses for the time being as a result of Taoiseach Micheal Martin's announcement. Originally, in phase four of Ireland's  reopening process the limit on people allowed at an outdoor event was going to increase from 200 to 500 on Aug. 31. Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh told Racing Post, "We have said all along that owners are the first priority and there...

Horse Racing Ireland on Friday released its mid-year figures, and with indicators down across the board they highlighted the severe repercussions the COVID-19 pandemic has had. Betting with on-course bookmakers and the Tote was down 73.9% through the first half of the year; the public has not been allowed on an Irish racecourse since early March, and thus attendance has been down by 80%. Eighty-seven fixtures were lost between March and June, and severe interruption to the sales calendar meant public auction sales in Ireland are down 87.3% year-on-year. The...

An online auction promoted and managed by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) raised €50,000 for the Feed The Heroes, a not-for-profit voluntary organisation set up to feed frontline hospital and emergency workers dealing with the Covid-19 health emergency. The auction generated €31,158, and the HRI donated the balance to reach the final total of €50,000. The 36 auction items included a Galway Festival course walk with Ruby Walsh, corporate hospitality at Longines Irish Champions Weekend, signed Al Boum Photo silks and a yard visit to Ger Lyons. The top lot was...