Horse Racing Ireland’s published statistics for 2014 show rising attendance at tracks, a first climb on on course betting turnover and a fourth straight year of significant increase in bloodstock sales to a figure of €147 million.
On the down side there was a 6.4% reduction in the number of horses in training from 9,199 in 2013 to 8,613 in the past 12 months. This has resulted in decision of three time Champion Hurdle winning Jockey Charlie Swan, always associated with Istabraq, to announce his retirement from training to concentrate on other areas within racing.
In broad terms though the figures are positive for the sport which started 2015 in good fashion with two sponsorship announcements last week and will build this year on the successful launch of the Irish Champions’ Weekend.
Sponsorship income in 2014 was up by over 6% to a figure of €4 million with significant votes of confidence by Guinness at the Galway Festival, Jaguar at Leopardstown and Boylesports taking over the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse for the first time.
€4 million in commercial sponsorship is a strong figure in the overall context of Irish sport and the fact that it has shown an accelerated increase from last years rise of only 1.6% is a positive indicator of returning confidence within business circles.
Racing delivers much in terms of hospitality and an overall sporting experience and this has been a key driver on the engagement of business with the sport.
“In 2014 Irish-bred and trained horses enjoyed tremendous global success,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh.
“At Cheltenham in 2014, there were 16 Irish-bred and 12 Irish-trained winners. Irish trainers equalled the record of eight wins at Royal Ascot and at the prestigious York Ebor festival each of the feature races was won by an Irish-trained horse.”
“Irish sprinters dominated the world sprints with Tom Hogan’s Gordon Lord Byron beating the top Australian sprinters in Rosehill in March and winning on QIPCO British Champions Day in October. Irish-trained and bred Adelaide (IRE) became the first non-Australasian horse to win Australia’s premier weight- for-age race, The Cox Plate, for Aidan O’Brien. Eddie Lynam won four of the five British Group 1 all-aged sprint races with his star sprinters Sole Power and Slade Power.”
“On the business side this is the fourth consecutive year of dynamic growth in bloodstock sales at public auction in Ireland which is a testament to the appeal of Irish thoroughbreds, based on their racing success at home and overseas.’’
The €147 million of bloodstock sales at home through auctioneers Goffs and Tattersalls was topped up by a near 12% increase in export sales to a high of €229.4 million. Those sales were to a total of 34 countries around the world making the Bloodstock industry one of the most successful export sectors of the year.
Those figures alone give support to the decision by Government to increase funding to the sport in last year’s budget as it clearly delivers for the national account.
Total attendance at race meetings was up by 4% to 1.29 million.
“We are confident that racing has retained its popularity with the sporting public and is in a strong position to benefit from the improving economy,” added Kavanagh. Irish Champions Weekend showed that innovation and a team approach can deliver long-lasting benefits for everyone in the sport.’’
Horse Racing Ireland is a full member of Sport for Business.
Image Credit: Inpho.ie
