Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

The Work

As a handicapper, you assess the performance and ability of a horse relative to all the other horses in the race. You then apply a rating based on this assessment. Initially, it takes two or three runs for a horse to attain a handicap rating depending on the type of race and the handicap can also be adjusted as the horse continues to race.

The rating dictates what handicap races the horse is eligible to enter and the weight they will carry in that race (most handicaps are restricted to horses with ratings in a particular range, e.g. 45 – 65 or 0 - 95). There is also a ‘weight for age’ system in place where the younger horses carry more weight than the older horses.

There are some differences in how horses are handicapped depending on the type of race (National hunt or Flat Racing) but the principle of the handicapping system is the same. Handicaps are used to create a situation where each horse theoretically has an equal chance of winning.

The handicapper is employed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and on race days, they analyse and evaluate performances in races and provide the ratings to officials, such as Stipendiary Stewards and Stewards’ Secretaries.

Outside of race days, Handicappers communicate advance knowledge of handicapping to trainers and the media. Trainers may at times object to a specific handicap being applied to their horse and the handicapper and trainer then need to try to come to an agreement. If they cannot agree, trainers may go to an appeals committee, but that is very unusual.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Cue or signal animals during performances.
• Talk to or interact with animals to familiarise them to human voices or contact.
• Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
• Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.
• Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
• Evaluate animals to determine their temperaments, abilities, or aptitude for training.
• Administer prescribed medications to animals.
• Keep records documenting animal health, diet, or behavior.
• Evaluate animals for trainability and ability to perform.
• Advise animal owners regarding the purchase of specific animals.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Although specific qualifications are not required, handicappers typically have a lot of experience of Horsemanship Jockey pathway in the racing industry, as a stipendiary steward or race day official for example.

They also need significant knowledge of the industry, all rules and regulations and of racing in general, which they may have acquired through equine related courses, or through experience of working in the sector. 

Training & Development

FET Centre PLC Courses: Equine Studies & Horsemanship NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET PLC coursefinder 

Apprenticeship Farriery, Stud farm assistant manager at NFQ level 6-7 Search apprenticeships

Higher Education entry CAO: Veterinary & Equine Animal Science NFQ level 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Development 

With experience you may be promoted to a Senior Handicapper role with the IHRTB or you may find other roles within the industry and racing authorities, in Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Horse Racing Ireland.

You may also want to work overseas with opportunities in countries like Dubai, Japan, the UK and USA.

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €33k

Salaries vary by employer, location, role, duties, and experience.Generally, the amount of pay you receive for working is a matter of agreement between you and your employer, these negotiations normally occur when you receive a job offer.  The racing industry have an agreed minimum rate of pay as well as other minimum conditions of employment for Irish stable staff including entitlements to sick pay and stable employee bonus scheme.  The agreement does not prohibit an employer from paying more favourable terms. Further information is available from the Irish Stable Staff Association.

Data Source(s):
Equuip/ IHRB/ HRI/ ISSA

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although the employment growth over the five-year period was negative for this occupation, employment levels have remained static since 2020. At 37%, the share aged 55 years or older was almost double the national average of 19%.

A relatively high share of persons employed in this occupation were employed part-time. The administrative and support services sector accounted for the largest share of employment for this occupation at almost two-fifths.

Horse Racing Ireland: Social & Economic impacts report 2023

The Irish Breeding and Racing industry supports 30,350 full time equivalent (FTE) staff in total. This includes 9,400 jobs directly related to the industry. Over 40% of these (c.3,950 FTEs) work in breeding operations, closely followed by c.3,000 FTE stable-staff, trainers and point-topoint handlers (c.800), caterers (c.350), jockeys, agents and valets (c.300) and racecourse staff (c.300). A further c.7,000 jobs are attributable to directly related employment. This includes individuals in equine-related roles like veterinarians and farriers, as well as those working in related agricultural, and leisure roles. Total non-betting employment was 24,800 in 2022, up c.8% when compared to the 22,900 supported by the industry in 2016.

Secondary employment is estimated to total c.8,400 and includes roles that are supported by further spending in the Irish economy (the ‘ripple effect’). This supports jobs in the likes of the travel and accommodation sectors and the bar and restaurant trade. Furthermore, the betting sector in Ireland is intrinsically linked to Irish racing, and many fewer individuals would be employed should racing cease to exist.

The sector is estimated to employ c.5,550 FTEs, across individuals working in LBOs and the Head Offices of betting operators.Given that Ireland has a large proportion of its population residing in rural communities, agriculture holds a high level of significance, with the Breeding and Racing industry being a significant  contributor to agricultural employment. It also supports jobs in farriery, horse transport and veterinary/equine health.

Directly related employment relates to those jobs that whilst being heavily reliant on the Breeding and Racing industry, also serve other industry sectors and sub-sectors. These can include equine-related roles such as veterinarians and farriers, as well as roles in agriculture, leisure, and hospitality. This is estimated to total c.7,000 in 2022.

Jobs Board
The www.workinracing.ie website includes a Jobs Board with live opportunities available within the breeding, racing and administration sectors.

• Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)

  • Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, R56 XE37
  • (045) 455 455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Horseracing Regulatory Board

  • +353 45 445 600
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here