The Irish government’s contribution to horse racing in 2026 will remain fixed at €79.3 million, following confirmation that this week’s Budget 2026 includes no increase to funding for Horse Racing Ireland or greyhound Racing Ireland.
The decision halts the momentum of last year’s 4.3 per cent rise, when HRI’s allocation climbed from €76 million to €79.3 million, as part of the record €99.1 million Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund — the highest level in the fund’s 23-year history. Of that total, approximately 80 per cent goes to horse racing, with 20 per cent to Greyhound Racing.
The flat figure comes as a setback to HRI’s ambitions under its five-year strategic plan, published in April 2024. The plan identified annual growth in the fund as a key performance indicator, with a target of €92.4 million in state support by 2028, comprising €77.4 million in revenue and €15 million in capital funding.
For 2026, HRI had forecast €83.8 million, representing a 5% increase over the previous year. That uplift will now not materialise.
There is, however, one minor shift within the total envelope. The capital development allocation has been reduced from €16 million to €14 million, effectively freeing an additional €2 million for HRI to distribute elsewhere in its operational budget.
HRI issued a measured response acknowledging the government’s ongoing backing but noting the constraints the unchanged figure imposes:
“Horse Racing Ireland acknowledge the continued support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund and notes today’s budget announcement of no increase to the total fund allocation of €99.1 million for 2026, of which €79.3 million is allocated to the horse racing sector, with €14 million ring fenced for capital development.”
“HRI’s budgeting process for 2026 is underway and will be focused on prioritising spending on key strategic deliverables in line with the HRI Strategic Plan 2024–2028.”
The freeze follows a year in which HRI used its enhanced 2025 budget to raise minimum prize-money levels in Listed and Group/Graded races on the Flat and over jumps, injecting an additional €1 million and lifting total prize money to €70.9 million. Additional funding was also allocated to equine welfare, education and training, integrity services, and the point-to-point sector.
But with costs rising across the sport, a static headline figure means the 2026 budget will demand sharper prioritisation.
Image Credit: Horse Racing Ireland and Inpho Photography
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