A SLIGHT rise in bloodstock sales in 2010 and average attendances remaining unchanged are being viewed as signs of a possible “levelling off” in the recession’s impact on the Irish racing industry.
Bloodstock sales at public auction last year were up €500,000 (0.7 per cent) to €68 million but that was a rare positive identified by Horse Racing Ireland yesterday when they unveiled their racing industry statistics for 2010.
There was also the maintaining of an average racecourse attendance in Ireland of 3,586 but otherwise all of the industry’s vital statistics remained resolutely downward.
Total racecourse betting was down 10 per cent to €163.6 million while total attendances dipped by 3.2 per cent to 1,197,654.
The number of horses in training dipped 11 per cent to 5,769 while prize-money levels dropped 13 per cent to €46 million.
“2008 was the first year of contraction in the industry in 15 years and the decline in attendances and bloodstock sales, key markers of the health of the business, accelerated in 2009. I welcome any sign of those trends tailing off,” HRI’s chief executive Brian Kavanagh said yesterday. “However, this is by no means a recovery, but a positive indication that racing can work its way through the challenges.”
Kavanagh again pointed to the need of a sustainable funding model as vital to the long-term prosperity of the racing industry in Ireland. “Reduced prize-money due to reduced funding has a negative knock-on effect throughout the industry,” he said.
“2010 brought a realisation by all parties that online and telephone betting must be levied on an equal basis with the high street shops to ensure a meaningful return to racing.
“The commitment to introduce that levy has been made by Government and HRI urges progress towards its implementation, to give racing the means to drive real recovery and secure jobs throughout the rural economy,” Kavanagh added.
The Government announced plans at the last budget to bring off-shore operators into the tax net with the methods to bring that off expected to be outlined when the 2011 Finance Bill is published.
KEY STATISTICS
On-course betting –Down 10% to €164m.
On-course bookmakers –Down 11.9% from €121.9m to €107.4m
Tote –down 4% from 47.8m to 45.9m.
On-course shops –Down 14.9% from €12.1m to €10.3m.
Total attendances –Down 3.2% from 1,237,171 to 1,197,654.
Average attendance –No change at 3,586.
Prize-money –Down 13% to €46m
National Hunt –Down 5.7% from €24.6m to €23.2m
Flat racing –Down 19.4% from €28.3m to €22.8m (includes €3.9m in loss of both Goffs Sales races and cuts in classic races.)
Sponsorship –Down 17% to €5m
Horses in training –Down 11% to 5,769
Ownership –Down 9% to 4,667
New owners –Down 13% to 776
Fixtures –Down 3.2% from 345 to 334
Number of races –Down 2.6% from 2,444 to 2,381
Bloodstock sales at public auction –Up 0.7 per cent from €67.5m to €68m
