Greyhound Racing Ireland catering subsidiary reduces losses

Greyhound Racing Ireland revealed earlier this year that prize money of €9.6 million was paid out in 2025 — unchanged on the previous year. File picture: Howard Crowdy

Losses at the Greyhound Racing Ireland subsidiary which runs bar and catering facilities at eight of the group’s greyhound tracks were reduced last year on the back of increased turnover and lower costs and administration expenses.

The latest annual accounts of Abargrove Limited show losses decreased at the company by 27% to €410,305 in 2025 from €559,145 the previous year.

Abargrove, which trades as Events and Hospitality Services, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the semi-State body, Greyhound Racing Ireland — otherwise known as Rásaíocht Con Éireann — which regulates and promotes the sport in Ireland.

The company provides food and beverage operations at tracks in Shelbourne Park, Cork, Limerick, Tralee, Galway, Mullingar, Newbridge and Waterford.

Abargrove took over the management of bar and catering services at greyhound stadia owned by its parent company in January 2015 to increase the flexibility in services offered to customers and to increase the attractiveness of the greyhound racing product.

The company’s latest annual accounts show turnover grew by 0.5% to just over €5.6 million last year. Wages and salaries were reduced by 9.7% to €3.24 million, although full- and part-time staff numbers increased from 236 to 254 during 2025.

The latest accounts also record that both Abargrove and the GRI group are facing a number of risks and uncertainties due to declining attendance and participation in the sport which have implications for ongoing profitability.

However, it also noted that both the company and its parent are taking a number of steps to address profitability of individual stadia and the group as a whole.

The accounts acknowledged that Abargrove is dependent on financial support from GRI which has confirmed its willingness to allow the company to continue as a going concern.

Prizemoney and tote income from the greyhound tracks do not form part of the company’s financial statements and are published separately by GRI.

The group revealed earlier this year that prize money of €9.6 million was paid out in 2025 — unchanged on the previous year.

Total betting on the Tote last year was €12.18 million — down from €15.7 million in 2024. Attendance levels at race meetings at the country’s greyhound stadia in 2025 were down around 6,500 or almost 2% to 351,637.