Overview

Horse racing occupies a key position in the Irish sporting and social landscape, with its major festivals the highlight of the sporting calendar and the 26 racecourses bringing regular live sport to communities across the island.

Horse racing is a national sport that enjoys much popularity with over 25% of Ireland’s adult population interested in racing, and attendances of over 1.3 million people to its 356 fixtures staged at the 26 racecourses around the country, second only to GAA in terms of Irish sporting attendances.

Ireland is a world leader in thoroughbred breeding and racing. A traditional industry, the natural advantages of climate and soil, allied to a world-renowned skill in horse care have seen Ireland become the headquarters of some of the biggest players in horse racing including Coolmore/Ballymore and Godolphin stud farms.

Irish racing and breeding is a vibrant industry, represented across every county and playing a vital role supporting the rural economy. Ireland leads on the international stage, being the third highest producer of foals globally with the thoroughbred being more common in Ireland on a per capita basis than anywhere else in the world.

 

 

What is the size and scope of the sector?

The core industry is estimated to generate €914m of expenditure into the Irish economy and is a significant direct provider and supporter of employment across Ireland in a range of economic sectors.

The breeding sector produces over 9,000 thoroughbred foals a year, and racing sector has over 8,600 thoroughbred horses in training and stages of over 350 racing meeting at 26 racecourses each year.

Total employment from the core Irish Breeding and Racing industry is estimated at circa 28,900 and this is expected to grow to 35,000 over the next five years.

 

 

See Economic Impact of Irish Breeding & Racing 2017 click here.

What are the current issues affecting this sector?

Irish racing and breeding is already a vibrant industry. But we continually strive to improve, with growth driven by our infrastructure, horsemen and women, public interest and Government support. With these assets all helping us to stimulate increased investment via a sustainable funding model, we aspire to even greater heights over the next five years to achieve the vision of global leadership supported by rural development and employment.

But, in Brexit and the economic impact of COVID-19, with the uncertainty it has caused and the difficulties it has the potential to create, we are facing a formidable challenge.

80% of the foals produced in Ireland are exported to Britain. The challenges in terms of movement of animals, customs and tariffs, and potential protectionism that Brexit could create, could have detrimental consequences.

Away from Brexit and the economic impact of COVID-19 we continue to hold great ambitions for the racing and breeding sector, and the 2018 success in areas around ownership, horses-in-training and the continued support of commercial partners, is a solid foundation on which to continue to build future growth.

What changes are anticipated over the next 5 years?

• Increase in employment to 35,000 equivalent full time jobs
• Increase in attendances at race meetings to 1.5 million
• However, Brexit remains a threat and an unknown where the impact is widely expected to be negative

See Horse Racing Ireland Strategic Plan 2020-2024 click here.

 

Do you have any statistics relevant to the sector?

 

Are there any areas in your sector currently experiencing skills shortages?

There are labour shortages reported in the racing sector for both work riders andracing rooms. Both areas play key roles within the day to day running of a breeding and racing yard and are essential roles within the industry.

Research conducted by the European Trainers Association shows that there is a shortage of work riders throughout Europe.