Organisation: Horse Racing Ireland

Irish Examiner View: Scandal in ample supply at RTÉ and Horse Racing Ireland

Recent developments do not show the horse racing industry in a particularly flattering light.

Fri, 07 Jul, 2023

Government to pressure semi-States over land transfers for housing

The Government wants to put pressure on semi-State bodies that are delaying the transfer of land earmarked for housing to the Land Development Agency (LDA).

Tue, 04 Jul, 2023

Trainer Gordon Elliott appears before IHRB referrals committee

Irish Examiner view: Concerns over governance in horseracing

Dáil public accounts committee puts the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board in the spotlight

Fri, 30 Jun, 2023

UCC students vote to ban promotion of horse race days

The move follows a petition by the UCC Vegan Society.

Wed, 05 Apr, 2023

Catherine the Fake: Horse trainers across Ireland 'owed money by O'Brien'

Ms O’Brien is currently sought by gardaí investigating complaints from people alleging fraudulent activities by her.

Sat, 19 Nov, 2022

Alleged fraudster Catherine O'Brien disqualified from racing horses in her name

The Irish Examiner's continuing investigation into the activities of 'Catherine the Fake' reveal Horse Racing Ireland has disqualified her from racing horses

Listen | Mon, 14 Nov, 2022

Committee hears Ireland’s 25 racecourses have no live CCTV

It comes more than four years after the drugging of a horse at a race meeting led to an outcry calling for increased scrutiny of stable yards

Thu, 22 Sep, 2022

€53k salary bump for new horse racing chief 'proportionate'

A decision to raise the starting salary for the new chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland by €53,000 does not “represent an increase” on the terms for the position, according to the Government.

Tue, 19 Apr, 2022

Majority of 4,000 slaughtered racehorses were Irish-trained

Three horses that had previously been trained by Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott were among them

Mon, 19 Jul, 2021

PAC criticises delay in installation of CCTV at Irish racecourses

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board said the delay is down to the 'complexities' of the tenders received

Wed, 30 Jun, 2021

Horse Racing Ireland questioned over unspent CCTV grant money

The body was one of several questioned by the Public Accounts Committee, which also examined spend by Caranua, RTÉ and Children's Health Ireland

Tue, 23 Mar, 2021

HRI to allow limited number of owners on track next month

Owners will be allowed back on Irish racecourses next month, as part of new measures which will ease current strict protocols in place to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2020

Aidan O’Brien's More Beautiful wins first race in Ireland since March

Winning trainer of the second race, Jessica Harrington, is not permitted on track as the coronavirus protocols employed by Horse Racing Ireland preclude over 70s attending meetings.

Mon, 08 Jun, 2020

Over half of Irish horse racing fixtures lost to coronavirus lockdown will be saved

More than half of the fixtures lost while Irish racing was in lockdown due to Covid-19 will be saved, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) revealed today as they published a new schedule for August through to December.

Thu, 04 Jun, 2020

‘Complacency’ biggest challenge for racing warns senior medical officer Dr Pugh

Dr Pugh is overseeing a mammoth project ahead of a June 8 behind-closed-doors restart at Naas.

Sun, 31 May, 2020

Siskin in ‘great nick’ ahead of Classic date, insists Colin Keane

Colin Keane reports Siskin to be in "great nick" ahead of the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Friday week and believes the colt's chilled demeanour will give him every chance of seeing out his first start at a mile.

Sat, 30 May, 2020

Horse Racing Ireland publishes programme for jumps fixtures

There are 24 National Hunt meetings planned for 12 racecourses.

Fri, 29 May, 2020

RTÉ off and running with new racing shows

RTÉ will increase their televised coverage of Irish racing this summer.

Tue, 26 May, 2020

Irish EBF to increase sponsorship contribution to €2.5m

The Irish EBF is the biggest sponsor in the sport in Ireland.

Fri, 22 May, 2020

Same but different: Galway Races to go ahead with significant changes

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) today revealed that the meeting will go ahead on its original dates of Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August with the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle being run on the Wednesday and Thursday as normal.

Thu, 21 May, 2020

Cork company wins major TV deal

New initiatives to enhance the viewing experience will see the provision of raceday tracking cameras and the use of drone cameras.

Wed, 20 May, 2020

Tattersalls Gold Cup opened to three-year-olds for first time since 1985

Horse Racing Ireland today announced their revised Group race programme for the rest of the year, a plan that will see the full complement of Group races run in 2020.

Tue, 19 May, 2020

Cork hopeful of racing resumption in July

Cork racecourse manager Andrew Horgan hopes that racing can resume at the Mallow track in July.

Mon, 18 May, 2020

Phase one of roadmap ‘reason to hope, not a cause for celebration’

As the country enters phase one of its roadmap to reopening on Monday, there are warnings that face masks are not a “magic shield” from Covid-19 and that there will be teething problems.

Sat, 16 May, 2020

Horse racing's return moved forward to June 8

Finally, some clarity. Horse racing will return to these shores on Monday, June 8. It is not phase one of the government’s plan to lift Covid-19 restrictions, but neither is it phase three, so there is something to celebrate for the industry which has been in the dark for far too long.

Fri, 15 May, 2020

Horse racing talks with government 'ongoing' over resumption date

After almost a week of speculation and underlying hope that the date for the resumption of horse racing would be brought forward from June 29, the situation and the date remain unchanged - for now, at least.

Thu, 07 May, 2020

Cheltenham should have been behind closed doors, says horse racing chief

The chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland has said that it would have better if the Cheltenham Festival had gone ahead behind closed doors.

Wed, 29 Apr, 2020

Galway Festival to be run behind closed doors

A full refund policy will be in operation for those who have already bought their tickets.

Tue, 21 Apr, 2020

HRI introduces support services for racing industry workers

Horse Racing Ireland has come forward with a free programme to help people within the industry to cope with the difficulties being thrown at them while horse racing remains side-lined due to the coronavirus.

Thu, 09 Apr, 2020

National Hunt season over as Fairyhouse and Punchestown Festivals cancelled

Horse Racing Ireland has announced the 2019/2020 National Hunt season has come to a close following the suspension of racing in Ireland and that the Fairyhouse and Punchestown Festivals will not be rescheduled.

Wed, 01 Apr, 2020

Cork Racecourse to become Covid-19 test centre as racing braces for ‘greatest challenge’

Horse Racing Ireland chairman Nicky Hartery admits the sport possibly faces its “greatest challenge” after the decision was taken to suspend racing until the middle of April.

Wed, 25 Mar, 2020

Jack Anderson: Sport should know when to fold 'em and walk away

Last week, it was easier to list those sports that were still going rather than those who had stopped, writes Jack Anderson.

Sun, 22 Mar, 2020

Pat Keane: HRI’s handling of coronavirus has been exemplary

Horse Racing Ireland has taken plenty of stick over many years, but you have to praise the bridge as you cross it and there is no doubt their recent handling of Irish racing, in the face of this cursed coronavirus, has been nothing short of exemplary.

Sat, 21 Mar, 2020

Irish Examiner View: A simple gesture that is so very reassuring

Once upon a time, and not so very long ago, the Irish rugby team were even more predictable than they are today.

Fri, 20 Mar, 2020

Horse racing to continue in Ireland under more stringent controls

Jockeys’ weights will increase by 2lb from Friday, with all racecourse saunas closed.

Wed, 18 Mar, 2020

Kavanagh worried over the financial implications of racing behind closed doors

Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, yesterday expressed concern over the financial implications of racing behind closed doors.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2020

HRI unveils plans for Tipperary all-weather track and €12,500 minimum race purse

Ireland’s horse racing authority has pledged to drive racecourse attendances to 1.5m a year by 2024.

Tue, 03 Mar, 2020

Horse Racing Ireland liaising with government over coronavirus concerns

There is very real concern that the upcoming Cheltenham Festival could yet be in danger of not going ahead as scheduled.

Fri, 28 Feb, 2020

Punchestown postponed to Wednesday as Storm Brendan hits

There will be no racing in Ireland today.

Mon, 13 Jan, 2020

Getting over the costly Supreme hurdle

The Supreme Racing Club controversy has damaged trust in the syndicate model but Kemboy winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March would provide the happiest of endings.

Sat, 21 Dec, 2019

Pat Keane: Racing TV criticism unjustified

So, Conor O’Neill, general manager of Punchestown racecourse, admitted to being ‘very disappointed’ the John Durkan Memorial Chase (run at Punchestown last Sunday) was broadcast on a split screen with no commentary in the early stages.

Sat, 14 Dec, 2019

Pat Keane: On-course bookies in real peril

It’s surely a no-brainer to give the on-course bookmakers what they want and help keep them on life support for as long as possible.

Sat, 30 Nov, 2019

Willie Mullins hopeful Kemboy clearance is imminent

Willie Mullins believes he will finally be able to make entries for Punchestown Gold Cup winner Kemboy this week.

Mon, 25 Nov, 2019

Kevin Doyle: 'I’m busier now than I ever was playing football'

Kevin Doyle says he's busier now breeding horses on the family farm in Wexford than he ever was playing football.

Wed, 20 Nov, 2019