AIRO Members july Newsletter

The latest Newsletter was sent out to members by email this month, but it can also be viewed online here.

​Council Updates

• At the most recent AIRO Council meeting, a sub-committee was formed to work with horse racing clubs and syndicates in order to enhance their experience on a race day.
• Council member Richard Pugh has been nominated to sit on the National Hunt programming committee to replace the late Dr. Brendan Doyle.
• A meeting of the sub-committee that is reviewing the AIRO constitution has also taken place and it is progressing well.
• A number of owners and trainers have voiced concern about the surface at Dundalk racecourse and this is being looked into.
• John Weld, David Hyland and Bill Bourke attended a ‘think tank’ meeting at The Curragh recently. People from all backgrounds from within the sport were invited to attend to give their thoughts on the Longines Irish Champions Weekend, and the trio put forward ideas from an owner’s perspective.
• John Lynam was nominated by Brian Polly and then co-opted onto the AIRO council to replace the late Dr. Brendan Doyle. John will go forward with any other nominees for election to join the AIRO council at the 2020 AGM.
• Much has been spoken about the new Curragh facilities and the overall race day experience that is being offered to racehorse owners at present. Members of the AIRO Council were invited to the familiarisation day before the first official meeting, and were very disappointed with the size of the Owners facilities. A letter was written to The Curragh management and additional marquee has been put in place for owners to dine.  We look forward to working with Pat Keogh to gain further improvements for owners and wish him well in his new position.
• AIRO Manager Aiden Burns and Council Chairman Brian Polly both attended the AGM of our British counterparts, the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), which took place in London earlier this month.
• Two candidates are seeking to be elected to the position of Owners’ Representative on the board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and they are Brian Polly and Caren Walsh. Members have been issued ballot papers. An independent auditor will take receipt of the completed votes and announce the result at a Special General Meeting on August 3rd at 12 noon in the ITBA Building, Kill.

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Prize money extended to sixth place

The opening day of that Bellewstown July Summer Festival also saw prize money being extended down to sixth place for all Irish races, which recently received the approval of the Horse Racing Ireland Board.
 
This is a policy change that the AIRO Council has successfully lobbied for in recent times and the move by HRI was welcomed by the association, as AIRO Manager Aiden Burns said: “This will be an incentive for owners to run their horses in more races and have a chance of recovering some of their costs.”
 
At the lowest level in races worth €10,000, the prize money extension will see the owners of horses that finish in sixth place receive €200, which will contribute significantly to the costs of the entry fee and jockey’s fee.

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Smaller Racecourse prize money

The AIRO Council also welcomes the additional allocation of prize money that is being given to Grade 2 and Grade 3 racecourses. Allowing owners the opportunity to win increased prizes, Horse Racing Ireland has provided €500,000 to 20 of these Grade 2 and Grade 3 tracks to enhance their feature races, and once such race that has been boosted is the Midlands National at Kilbeggan.
 
This year’s renewal has a prize fund of €100,000 and it is the first time that a six-figure race has been run at the Westmeath course which is a great credit to all involved. With AXA Smart Farm Insurance coming on board as race sponsor for 2019, it has allowed the prize fund of the race to be doubled within the space of 12 months.
 
With these Grade 2 and Grade 3 racecourses accounting for the majority of tracks in Ireland and the backbone of the sport, this initiative boost the prize fund of their feature races, is a very positive one.

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Free Race Days

The AIRO Council is continually looking to improve the opportunities for owners, and to that end, there are no fewer than 115 free race days in total for current owners to attend throughout 2019.

​August
05.08.19 - Cork
06.08.19 - Roscommon
07.08.19 - Sligo
08.08.19 - Sligo
12.08.19 - Ballinrobe
17.08.19 - Cork
15.08.19 - Tramore
19.08.19 - Roscommon
20.08.19 - Sligo
21.08.19 - Killarney
27.08.19 - Ballinrobe
28.08.19 - Bellewstown
29.08.19 - Bellewstown
30.08.19 - Down Royal
31.08.19 - Down Royal

September
02.09.19 - Roscommon
05.09.19 - Clonmel
06.09.19 - Kilbeggan
07.09.19 - Wexford
09.09.19 - Listowel
11.09.19 - Laytown
16.09.19 - Galway
17.09.19 - Galway
18.09.19 - Naas
21.09.19 - Gowran Park
25.09.19 - Sligo
27.09.19 - Downpatrick
28.09.19 - Navan
30.09.19 - Roscommon

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Galway Races

​On Monday July 29, Galway Racecourse will stage its 150th Summer Festival. As usual, the association will have a marquee for members on the opening three days of racing – Monday 29th July, Tuesday 30th July and Wednesday 31st July. Located close to the parade ring, complimentary light refreshments will be available.
This year the racecourse has plans in place for what will be an extra special year.
Prizemoney has been boosted to a record-breaking level of over €2.3 million. Each race will have a minimum value of €17,000.
New conditions are also in place which will be a welcome addition for those owners looking to gain entry and qualify their horse for the Galway Plate and Hurdle, with the addition of two qualifying races for the Plate and one for the Hurdle.
The Galway Blazers Handicap Chase and the Guinness Handicap Hurdle will each be valued €80,000. These two races are aimed at horses which do not make it into the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle earlier in the week.

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Bellewstown Updates

Bellewstown are set to undertake a major stable yard development project, with the construction of 110 permanent stables. The new build will ensure an adequate number of stables and will also greatly improve the quality of equine accommodation. Construction is to begin later this year. 

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New Roscommon weigh room
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The latest upgrade of the facilities at Roscommon was officially opened by HRI CEO Brian Kavanagh last month. Worth almost €1 million, the development features new jockey changing facilities, drug testing area, weigh-room and press room.

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Back Your Team Races

The inaugural Tote Backing Your Team Handicap Hurdle took place in Cork in mid-July and was won by the Gordon Elliott Racing Club with Smiling Eliza. The concept sees three races, worth €15,000 each, open to Syndicate and Club-owned horses only.  Over 100 owners were entertained on the night and the series now moves on to Bellewstown on August 29th, before finishing at Gowran Park on October 5th.

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