Irish Racing Statistics 2004
2004 saw substantial growth in Tote betting, continuing success for the major festivals, increased sponsorship and significant growth in racehorse ownership. Overall attendances, however, fell just short of last year's record figure of 1.4m and on-course bookmaker betting declined by 4.6% from €183m to €174.7m.
Attendances at the festival meetings again provided the main highlights of the year with the Galway September Festival at 12,500 (+ 52%) and the Tramore August Festival at 23,000 (+28%) showing the most dynamic growth. The Punchestown Festival at over 75,000 grew by 15% on the previous year, the Fairyhouse Grand National Festival at 34,000 grew by 7% while the Curragh Guineas Festival at over 18,000 also grew by more than 6%. The Galway Summer Festival at 198,000 and the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at 63,200 both grew by 3%.
Key Statistics 2004
Total Fixtures: Up 0.7% from 303 to 305
Attendances: Down 0.7% from 1,395,833 to 1,386,517
Total Prize Money: Up 4.2% from €50.4m to €52.5m
(Inc. Point to Point):
National Hunt: Up 6.7% from €25.2m to €26.9m
Flat: Up 1.2% from €25.2m to €25.6m
Total Sponsorship: Up 6.9% from €7.1m to €7.6m
Tote Betting: Up 7% from €44.3m to €47.4m
On-Course Bookmakers: Down 4.6% from €183.1m to €174.7m
On-Course SP Shops: Up 12.3% from €9.7m to €10.9m
New Owner Registrations: Up 17.6% from 850 to 1,000
Other highlights of the year for HRI were the renewal of the Horse and Greyhound racing Fund, the launch of the Racecourse Capital Development Fund, the re-introduction of Irish racing on satellite television and the publication of the Indecon report showing the significant employment and economic contribution made by the racing industry.
In overall terms, on-course betting declined by 1.8%. Bookmakers experienced a decrease of 4.6% from €183m to €174.7m, while on-course SP shops and the Tote showed increases. The on-course SP shops increased from 16 to 18 in number and turnover grew by more than 12% to reach €10.9m. The Tote saw continuous growth throughout the year, up 7% to € 47.4m, achieving its best results at Galway and the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown. The hand-held terminals which were introduced at Easter in Fairyhouse have proved very popular. New Tote accounts business also grew, with a corresponding increase in tele-betting sales.
National Hunt prize-money increased by 6.7% to €26.9m and Flat prize-money increased by 1.2% from €25.2m to €25.6m. New owners' registrations went from 850 to 1,000 and the average number of horses in training went up from 5,672 to 6,004.
Commenting on the figures HRI’s Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh stated:
'We knew that 2004 would be a very competitive market-place, particularly with the Olympics and Euro 2004. In that climate I am delighted to see the continuing dynamism in Irish racing, with most of the key indicators showing satisfactory increases. The significant growth in Tote Betting is a very good measure of the popularity of the racing product with the public. Sponsorship grew by 7% from €7.1m to €7.6m in 2004 and HRI fully expect this trend to continue for 2005 with new sponsorships from Guinness and Kerrygold already secured, together with increased support from Irish Distillers for the Powers Irish Grand National.
Despite having had to cope with very poor weather at times throughout the year, racecourses nonetheless came close to last years all-time high of 1.4m attendances. Some meetings are thankfully almost weather-proof as the Listowel Festival proved its enduring appeal in terrible conditions by attracting almost 93,000 racegoers. We will target growth in advance ticket sales and group bookings, together with increased local marketing support, to help racecourses to cope with adverse conditions. We remain confident that the underlying demand for racing is strong and we expect to see further growth in 2005.'
Further Information contact:
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive, ph: 045 842800
Tamarisk Doyle, PR Manager: ph: 045 842841, Mob: 0872936
Attendances at the festival meetings again provided the main highlights of the year with the Galway September Festival at 12,500 (+ 52%) and the Tramore August Festival at 23,000 (+28%) showing the most dynamic growth. The Punchestown Festival at over 75,000 grew by 15% on the previous year, the Fairyhouse Grand National Festival at 34,000 grew by 7% while the Curragh Guineas Festival at over 18,000 also grew by more than 6%. The Galway Summer Festival at 198,000 and the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at 63,200 both grew by 3%.
Key Statistics 2004
Total Fixtures: Up 0.7% from 303 to 305
Attendances: Down 0.7% from 1,395,833 to 1,386,517
Total Prize Money: Up 4.2% from €50.4m to €52.5m
(Inc. Point to Point):
National Hunt: Up 6.7% from €25.2m to €26.9m
Flat: Up 1.2% from €25.2m to €25.6m
Total Sponsorship: Up 6.9% from €7.1m to €7.6m
Tote Betting: Up 7% from €44.3m to €47.4m
On-Course Bookmakers: Down 4.6% from €183.1m to €174.7m
On-Course SP Shops: Up 12.3% from €9.7m to €10.9m
New Owner Registrations: Up 17.6% from 850 to 1,000
Other highlights of the year for HRI were the renewal of the Horse and Greyhound racing Fund, the launch of the Racecourse Capital Development Fund, the re-introduction of Irish racing on satellite television and the publication of the Indecon report showing the significant employment and economic contribution made by the racing industry.
In overall terms, on-course betting declined by 1.8%. Bookmakers experienced a decrease of 4.6% from €183m to €174.7m, while on-course SP shops and the Tote showed increases. The on-course SP shops increased from 16 to 18 in number and turnover grew by more than 12% to reach €10.9m. The Tote saw continuous growth throughout the year, up 7% to € 47.4m, achieving its best results at Galway and the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown. The hand-held terminals which were introduced at Easter in Fairyhouse have proved very popular. New Tote accounts business also grew, with a corresponding increase in tele-betting sales.
National Hunt prize-money increased by 6.7% to €26.9m and Flat prize-money increased by 1.2% from €25.2m to €25.6m. New owners' registrations went from 850 to 1,000 and the average number of horses in training went up from 5,672 to 6,004.
Commenting on the figures HRI’s Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh stated:
'We knew that 2004 would be a very competitive market-place, particularly with the Olympics and Euro 2004. In that climate I am delighted to see the continuing dynamism in Irish racing, with most of the key indicators showing satisfactory increases. The significant growth in Tote Betting is a very good measure of the popularity of the racing product with the public. Sponsorship grew by 7% from €7.1m to €7.6m in 2004 and HRI fully expect this trend to continue for 2005 with new sponsorships from Guinness and Kerrygold already secured, together with increased support from Irish Distillers for the Powers Irish Grand National.
Despite having had to cope with very poor weather at times throughout the year, racecourses nonetheless came close to last years all-time high of 1.4m attendances. Some meetings are thankfully almost weather-proof as the Listowel Festival proved its enduring appeal in terrible conditions by attracting almost 93,000 racegoers. We will target growth in advance ticket sales and group bookings, together with increased local marketing support, to help racecourses to cope with adverse conditions. We remain confident that the underlying demand for racing is strong and we expect to see further growth in 2005.'
Further Information contact:
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive, ph: 045 842800
Tamarisk Doyle, PR Manager: ph: 045 842841, Mob: 0872936