Listowel races owner loses appeal for tax exemption 

The racecourse pointed out the exemption is granted to a sports body involved in “athletic or amateur games or sports” and that horse racing was “indisputably” a sport.

One of the country’s best-known racecourses has been refused a tax exemption available to sports bodies over its failure to demonstrate that its sole purpose is the promotion of horse racing.

The operators of Listowel Racecourse have lost their challenge before the Tax Appeals Commission to a decision by Revenue to refuse their application for the exemption granted to sports bodies.