The Irish Harness Racing Association has setup a Veterinary Welfare & Integrity division which will operate independently from the main IHRA Board of Directors and will report to and be funded by the Board. It will comprise initially of seven people including two representatives from the main board Mr James Levis & Mr James O’Sullivan, IHRA Senior Steward Mr Peter Clarke and four external parties who have no direct involvement with harness racing who bring both Veterinary and Equine expertise to this division which will have full responsibility for all aspects of integrity, welfare and rules of racing and is in accordance with governance best practice as defined by the Department of Agriculture.
It is envisaged that there will be significant increased emphasis on the integrity testing process in 2017 with the use of TCO2 analysers which are currently being procured for all race meetings to be held at Portmarnock, Annaghmore, Cork and Dundalk with increases in the number and levels of samples for Laboratory analysis which will include Cobalt.
The UET General Assembly takes place at Vincennes on Saturday where Ireland now takes its place as a full member.
The IHRA once again takes a stand in the International Village at Vincennes for Friday’s proceedings with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland and Board Bia who are now actively promoting Ireland’s harness racing sector. Irish companies Horseware Ireland, Connolly’s Red Mills and Foran Equine will also have trade stand exhibitions at Vincennes on Friday courtesy of the IHRA. Representatives from both Enterprise Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland will be invited guests of the Irish Harness Racing Association at Paris Vincennes this coming weekend.
The economic study commissioned by the Minister for Agriculture is now at and advanced stage with an interim report due in late February.
