Horse Racing Ireland sees betting recovery
The national authority for thoroughbred racing in Ireland has reported a strong recovery of on-course betting bookmaker turnover for 2021.
Ireland.- Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Ireland’s national authority for thoroughbred racing, has reported its 2021 year-end figures.
The numbers show on-course betting bookmaker turnover of €12.9m, an increase of 67.5 per cent from 2020 when betting revenue was severely impacted by Covid-19 countermeasures, which saw fixtures initially cancelled and then held without spectators.
The figures show a strong recovery, in many cases beating pre-pandemic numbers from 2019. That was aided by a record number of fixtures and races in 2021, despite the fact there were limits on the number of spectators that could attend racecourses until October.
Total prize money rose to €61.82m, up from €50.68m in 2020. Some £10.85 million of that was won in the UK by Irish-trained horses.
Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, commented: “So many of the figures announced today show a remarkable resilience in the horse racing and breeding industries. The figures for the numbers of horses-in-training have jumped by over 14% year-on-year at a time when attendance of owners at race meetings was severely curtailed.
“That support from owners is vital, placing the industry on a secure footing and reflecting favourably on levels of employment across the industry and the wider economic activity that brings. It is hugely encouraging that all categories of ownership have grown and a record owner retention rate is a terrific vote of confidence in the industry.”
In 2020, Horse Racing Ireland approved a seven-year tote pool betting deal between Tote Ireland and the UK Tote group for UK Tote Group to provide off-course betting for Tote Ireland. The deal created joint international distribution and promotion of Tote betting on Irish and British racing.
Last year, HSI announced the development of a new mobile application with digital and data consultancy PTI Digital. The app was developed as part of HRI’s digital vision to deliver growth and revenue, enhance race day experience and engage audiences.
