On course for online betting?

HORSE RACING IRELAND is considering allowing punters use online betting and betting exchanges at racecourses to counter the rapidly falling attendance numbers at Irish race meetings.

Since 2007, the number of people attending race meetings every year has plummeted by 260,000 and in a bid to re-energise the sport, HRI yesterday launched a Strategic Marketing Group Report that recommended a wide array of changes to how the sport is run.

“This report will earn some criticism which I hope will be constructive,” said marketing group chairman Down Royal racecourse chairman, Jim Nicholson yesterday.