Ireland the road to the rising…………

With the dust now settled on the race tracks for 2015 following the most successful season to date with record prize money on offer and a record number of race meetings on a national level and many track records broken and remade.

The battle continues in the background on a weekly basis to build and sustain the progress made to date for harness racing.

In the past week Harness Racing has one again made the headlines in Dail Eireann at Parliamentary questions.

Parliamentary Question No. 378/379/380 & 381

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2015. Ref No: 38273/15 Proof: 399

On behalf of the Irish Harness Racing Association why was the small amount of €375,000 been denied to the IHRA despite the fact that they have been proven itself in this specific areas as requested To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the Government is not supporting the development of the Irish Harness Racing industry, as this industry can continue to grow in the domestic economy by the provision of new jobs, long-term business development growth, and significant export revenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Michael Healy-Rae.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine : (Simon Coveney)

REPLY

I propose to take Questions, 38273/15, 38276/15, 38277/15 and 38278/15 together.

“Funding from my Department for the horse sector in Ireland has been provided, through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, to Horse Racing Ireland for thoroughbreds and through an annual grant to Horse Sport Ireland for sport horses. My Department has been very supportive of the sector and that has been reflected in increased financial support for 2016 as announced in the context of the recent Budget. My Department is providing an additional €6m in 2016 to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, bringing it to €74m, of which 80 per cent is dedicated to thoroughbred horses and an extra €50,000 to Horse Sport Ireland totaling €1.87m for sport horses. The Irish bloodstock industry is of enormous economic benefit to this country. It has been estimated, that the industry provides in excess of 14,000 jobs, approximately €1.1bn in economic output and is responsible for exports worth in excess of €200m. Regarding the Irish Sport Horse industry its contribution to the Irish economy is in excess of €700 million per annum and it accounts for some 12,500 jobs. Harness racing is a significant equestrian sport in a number of countries, notably France, Sweden, Italy and North America. However, harness racing has been a minority-interest sport in this country. I believe the Irish Harness Racing Association is actively seeking to expand the sport in Ireland and believes it has significant potential for development to bring it more into line with the profile it enjoys elsewhere. Following on from the establishment of a limited company in May 2015, the Irish Harness Racing Association has applied for Ireland to become a full member of the European Union Trotting (UET), which is the umbrella organization for national harness racing organizations in 22 European countries. This would open the way for Irish competitors to compete in Europe. Also in line with its ambition to elevate the sport to a more professional and sophisticated plane in this country, the Irish Harness Racing Association has been considering the feasibility of running fixtures at venues of a higher quality than those to which it has heretofore been confined. In this regard the Irish Harness Racing Association requested permission from Horse Racing Ireland to stage a number of harness racing fixtures at Dundalk racecourse. My Department wrote to Horse Racing Ireland requesting them to facilitate the specific request. The Board of HRI decided to allow a trial event under strict supervision.

My Department awaits the report from the Turf Club in this regard”.

Irish Harness Racing Association upcoming meetings

Tuesday 10^th November

• Meeting with Horse Racing Ireland to review the recent Dundalk trial meeting
• Presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture Food & Marine in Leinster House.

Wednesday 11^th November

• Meeting with the Department of Justice re Gambling Control Bill submission.

Further meeting are due to be scheduled with local political representatives and the Irish Sports Council.

 

Ireland the road to the rising summary……………

• June 2013 World Trotting Conference in Paris Ireland makes the International connections to build on for the future.
• July 2013 Irish Harness Racing becomes an affiliate of Horse Sport Ireland.
• October 2013 Arthur Cooper takes up a Consultancy role for Ireland to help build and implement a 5 year development plan for harness racing.
• November 2013 Ireland forms partnership with Le Trot Europe’s largest player on the Trotting scene.
• January 2014 Ireland signs a breeding agreement with Le Trot at Vincennes
• March 2014 Ireland purchases the first 31 Trotteur Francais horses.
• April 2014 Portmarnock hosts the first Irish Trotteur Francais racing series.
• June 2014 WTC Inter Conference in Chicago, Ireland once again strengthens the international partnership connections.
• November 2014 Ireland’s 8 leading drivers travel to France to compete at the Irish day in Argetan in Normandy.
• November 2014 Ireland purchases a further 46 Trotteur Francais Horses.
• December 2014 Irelands leading driver Alan Wallace represents Ireland at the International meeting in Vincennes Paris.
• December 2014 Joseph Caffrey awarded as leading Irish Trotteur Francais owner at the Gala Awards Banquet in Paris following a successful season with Romalus Augenaies.
• January 2015 Ireland gains UET observer status at the General Assembly in Paris.
• March 2015 Ireland purchases a further 10 Trotteur Francais horses.
• April 2015 Ireland introduces a revolutionary new handicapping system to ensure the viability of its racing stock, the system now deemed to be a major success and will require ongoing changes and monitoring of its performance in line with an ever changing landscape.
• May 2015 the ITHRF announces its plans to start a development funding process having secured the use of the grass venue at Manch for racing and workout purposes.
• May 2015 Cork and Annaghmore host their inaugural Trotteur Francais racing series which underpins the ongoing viability of both regions.
• June 2015 World Trotting Conference in Sydney Ireland is a keynote speaker on emerging nations in harness racing. The Inter Dominion Series Ireland & UK concept is born and Ireland scoops an International Media Award for Ashling Crowe’s Sunday Independent story.
• July 2015 IHRA approved by the Department of Agriculture as the Passport Issuing Organization for the Standardbred breed in Ireland.
• July 2015 Harness Racing discussed at Parliamentary Leaders questions in Dail Eireann with a commitment of support from the Minister for Agriculture Mr. Simon Coveney.
• July 2015 Portmarnock hosts the first ever Irish all Trotter race meeting.
• July 2015 UET General Secretary Mr. Jacques Chartier make a four day fact finding mission to Ireland.
• August 2015 the Ladbrokes Vincent Delaney Memorial scales a new high for Ireland with many record breaking performances, international visiting drivers and media spotlight.
• August 2015 sees the inaugural running of the Sire Stakes Ireland series a concerted effort to promote breeding of the Standardbred.
• September 2015 the long awaited return to Dundalk Stadium for Harness Racing with visiting dignitaries including Le Trot CEO Mr. Guillaume Maupas, UET President Mr. Jean-Pierre Kratzer and UET General Secretary Mr. Jacques Chartier.
• October 2015 Meadowbranch DJ travels to Australian as the European representative for the Inter Dominion Series to be hosted at Gloucester Park Perth in late November and early December.