Job losses a racing certainty

THE chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland has warned hundreds of jobs are under threat and that racecourses may close if government funding for the industry is slashed in the December budget.

Brian Kavanagh said support for his organisation has been “cut twice and is at breaking point.”

He said that over 16,500 people are employed directly or indirectly in the many facets of Irish horse racing and argued that withdrawal of financial backing for the industry would have massive repercussions in rural areas where the majority of the workforce is based.