Prize money to increase by over €1m next year

HORSE RACING IRELAND chiefs yesterday revealed that prize money will increase in 2012.

Though the HRI budget has been hit by a drop of 1.7% in income from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, the loss has been offset by increased income from a media rights deal.

The HRI said prize money will jump from a forecast €44.4m in 2011 to €45.5m in 2012. The figure equals the prize money on offer in 2002 with an additional 70 fixtures to fund.