COURSE bookmakers are to go ahead with their plan to boycott tomorrow's Leopardstown card. The decision was confirmed at a meeting of the Irish National Bookmakers Association (INBA) in the Ambassador Hotel in Kill, Co Kildare last night.
Afterwards, Francis Hyland, the association's secretary, said: "The strike will go ahead. The boo makers will not be operating at The Ladbroke meeting at Leopardstown on Saturday. It is most unlikely that they will boycott Navan on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Irish Horseracing Authority have drawn up emergency plans to deal with the strike. Apart from the usual Tote facilities, a comprehensive betting service will be provided in the betting shop, including board prices on all races. In addition, a betting shop service will be provided in a marquee in the unreserved enclosure.
The IHA discussed the threatened boycott at a meeting yesterday and stated afterwards that it had now taken a decision that course betting shops should provide racegoers with the option of betting on the home event. The IHA also dispute the bookmakers' claim that the shop at Leopardstown has damaged their business, stating that the trial period in 1996 does not substantiate their case.
The betting shop, the IHA claim, is patronised by punters who place small stakes and who are attracted to multiple bets involving horse running at both home and away fixtures. Around 70 per cent of the betting slips amount to under £10.
