Irish Harness Racing Association

Background Notes Committee on Agriculture, Food and the MarinePresentation Date: Tuesday 10 November 2015

What is Trotting?

• A Global sport (31 countries) valued at +13 billion euros • Also referred to as ‘Harness’ Racing• Conducted with a horse, sulky and driver• Professional meetings run on all-weather surfaces at

racetracks (circumference of 800m and upwards), NOT on roads

• IHRA trainers, drivers and other participants are professional horsemen dedicated to the welfare of the horse

• Globally, Trotting is recognised as a ‘Rural’ Horse Sport, more akin to people from Farming & Horse Communities

Trotting in Europe

• Trotting is the largest professional Horse Racing Sport on mainland Europe and Scandinavia

• This Sport of Trotting is BIGGER than Thoroughbred Horseracing

Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA)• Internationally recognised body representing

the sport of Trotting in Ireland• Member of World Trotting Federation• Representatives are on a number of Global

Trotting Sub-Committees• Currently being audited to be upgraded to a

Full Member of the Union of European Trotting (akin to a country becoming a full member of EU)

What the IHRA is Not!

Road or Sulky Racing

Irish Harness Racing Association is:• The legitimate and professional association for

Trotting in Ireland• As noted, the recognised body globallyAs a body the IHRA is prepared to assist in solving the current ‘Road-Racing’ Social Issues

Trotting in Europe

• Largest Horse Racing sport across 21 countries• In France, the industry is worth more than 6

billion euros in direct benefits to the economy • Europe enforces the same – if not stronger –

integrity rules as compared to Thoroughbred horseracing

• +230 Trotting tracks in France• Industry in France employs +60,000 people• A Trotting track in rural towns is common

Shared Racecourse Facilities• Globally it has been shown that having strong Trotting

and Thoroughbred Industries can grow the overall Horse market for a country Domestically & Internationally

• In ALL countries [except Ireland] where both Trotting and Thoroughbred racing is conducted Racecourse facilities are shared

• This includes conducting individual and joint race-meetings on the SAME day

• Horse integrity and welfare are of equal concern across both Trotting & Thoroughbreds

Shared Racecourse Facilities

• Ireland is the ONLY country where the Thoroughbred Governing Authority (Horse Racing Ireland – HRI) can override a privately owned racecourse from having Trotting

• HRI argue it is for ‘Welfare’, ‘Commercial’, ‘Track’ reasons

• All their arguments have NO basis

Dundalk Success

• Trotting Race Meeting 27 September at the Dundalk All-Weather Thoroughbred Racetrack

• Well attended including International Representation from France and Governing Body Union of European Trotting

• Met or exceeded all Veterinary Standards • Dundalk keen for more meetings to occur• Has opened the door for the exporting of Irish

Harness Racing to new Global Markets

Why should Trotting in Ireland be Supported?

• Irish Trotting is recognised Internationally• Other Countries – primarily through the French

Mentoring Programme – are supporting the development of Trotting in Ireland with– Entering third year of French programme– Subsidised horses to race– Prizemoney to the value of +150.000 euros – Educational support for both industry professionals

and young persons seeking an Equine career

Export Market Potential

• The IHRA has been developing Export Opportunities to France and other markets

• Should the French PMU import Irish Trotting this will result in Commissions direct to the Irish economy of more than 50.000 euros per meeting

• There is an ongoing International demand for Trotting and both Irish races and horses are highly thought of

Not Only Export But…

• Australia is subsidising an Irish horse to compete in the richest series in the Southern Hemisphere in November & December

• Subsidies have been for both travel and prize-money for the qualifying races in Ireland

• The horse – Meadowbranch DJ – has arrived in Perth

• This can be considered the same as the great thoroughbred ‘Vintage Crop’ competing and winning the Melbourne Cup for Ireland in 1993

Road/Sulky-Racing • The IHRA is an independent body that is NOT associated with

this practise• The IHRA recognises this is a social issue• Road-Racing is a problem that DOES NOT exist in Europe• WHY?• One reason is the strength of the Legislation & Governance of

their Trotting Industries • Through lack of investment in Ireland of the Trotting industry

Road-Racing has evolved. • Mainland European Countries built Rural Community tracks and

encouraged local participants to own and race a horse at one of these recognised Trotting tracks

Road-Racing Problem How Can The IHRA Assist?• As an independent professional body we will work with Government

to find the solutionThe Solution

• Development of Trotting Tracks in various counties across Ireland• Education process over time for the ‘Road-Racers’ to race on

recognised trotting tracks• Decent prizemoney, off-course betting and export opportunities will

provide the solution to the ‘Road-Racing’ issue • In most case Road-Racing horses have the correct ‘passports’• These horses should race under the administration of the correct

Globally recognised Authority – the IHRA• The IHRA will accommodate Road-Racers and their horses access

should IHRA tracks be developed

IHRA to Date

• Has been self-funded• The Association has taken a grass-roots sport

that is now recognised globally• Is on the verge of becoming one of the key

countries within the Global Trotting Industry• Developing Export markets for Ireland• Creating other industries and jobs in Ireland

including Breeding and an International Tote Trotting Hub

Achieving Goals

• Unless there is some form of Government recognition and financial support these developments will not reach their maximum potential

• The IHRA has met with many Department of Agriculture personnel and submitted papers requesting Appropriation within the October Budget for:

375.000 euros for Business Development75.000 euros for Veterinary issues

EVERY Horse Sport received significant increases in Appropriation except one

Harness Racing – the IHRA received ZERO

• And yet, Harness Racing is the only Horse Sport than can offer the greatest Financial Return to Ireland through Export of Pictures (a figure significantly higher than Thoroughbreds currently generate)

For This Initial

375.000 euros

the IHRA will become a Horse Sport and Industry that will deliver Ireland Economic growth and benefits and be an Industry Ireland will be proud to promote both Domestically & Internationally