Resolution in sight to Punchestown dispute

THE end to a dispute between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Kildare Hunt Club over the Punchestown racetrack is looking more likely.

Tensions had grown between the HRI, which runs the course, and the Kildare Hunt Club (owners of the land) over two property leases.

The disputes meant that the operating companies for the track has not filed its annual accounts, as some Kildare Hunt Club members who are directors of the companies have not signed off on the accounts.

However, all parties involved with Punchestown were optimistic yesterday that the dispute would come to end soon and a new agreement with the Kildare Hunt Club worked out.

Punchestown said yesterday that its annual festival, which takes place next month, is worth nearly e43 million to the local economy.

The figure is based on a report of the benefits of the festival by NUI Maynooth.

The report found that punters spent €7.6m at on-course on food and entertainment, while off-course spending such as a travel and accommodation and food add more than €25m. When other spending is included, the total value to the economy is €42.9m.

Punchestown general manager Dick O’Sullivan said this year’s festival looked like being another record breaker. Last year, around 78,000 punters attended over the four days and Mr O’Sullivan said early indications showed this year would be better.

A total of €2.3m in prize money is up for grabs. On three days, the feature races will offer €200,000 in prize money, with the Guinness Gold Cup boasting a total prize fund of €240,000.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition is being primed for the festival as are many others top Irish national hunt horses.

HRI chairman Denis Brosnan said the Punchestown festival was beginning to rival Cheltenham. But he said the track needed further investment in the future.