THE Irish National Bookmakers Association will be seeking what its spokesman termed "a stewards' inquiry" later today into why an agreement brokered on Friday over on course betting collapsed.
On Saturday the bookmakers did not operate at Leopardstown despite being advised by their association that an agreement had been reached.
Mr Francis Hyland, secretary of the INBA, claimed last night that the agreement was worked out between the association, Mr Michael Dowling, secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Mr Denis Brosnan, chairman of the Irish Horseracing Authority.
The INBA had told its members to go to Leopardstown on Saturday and operate a normal service.
But, he said, when the union executive went to the Department of Agriculture on Saturday morning to sign the agreement, Mr Dowling said difficulties had been raised by the chief executive of the IHA, Mr Noel Ryan. As a result, the union advised members not to operate at the meeting.
He said a further meeting will take place later today.
The dispute involves the operation of a Ladbroke betting shop at Leopardstown course, which course bookies say should not be allowed take bets on the Leopardstown meetings.