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

HORSE RACING Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh last night announced draconian cuts for the sport and warned that the national equine industry’s future may be ‘unravelling.’

THE new pavilion stand at Cork Racecourse, costing €6m, was officially opened yesterday by Batt O’Keeffe, Minister for Education.

HORSE Racing Ireland reported another bumper year for the sport yesterday, with continued growth in attendances, betting and prize money in 2006.