IN September 2013 a report was published, following work carried out by Petrus Consulting, and it was a review of the contribution which Irish racecourses make to the horseracing industry, and the finances of those racecourses.

The Association of Irish Racecourses at their AGM this year agreed that it will commission an update to this major economic analysis of Irish tracks and their importance. A major reason for this update being needed is that the data on which that report was based is now at least five years old. Given the importance and value of such information when it comes to considering various strategic initiatives, it is vital that racecourses work with the most reliable and up-to-date information.

As the calendar year comes to an end today with a New Year’s Eve meeting at Punchestown, it is timely to take a look back at the year. While final figures have yet to be compiled, 2016 would appear to have been a good one overall for racecourses with regard to the numbers coming through their turnstiles. The final figures will have been given a boost by the tally of racegoers who streamed into Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal in the days after Christmas. Buoyed by the good weather that prevailed this year, and attracted by the quality of the cards on offer at all the courses, followers of racing forsook their couches and packed the enclosures instead.

This will give heart to everyone involved with the sport and for racecourse executives it will spur them on to continue to offer racegoers the highest quality offering they can. Welcoming the upswing in numbers attending Ireland’s 26 racecourses, AIR chief executive Paddy Walsh paid tribute to his members and the efforts they make to give paying customers and connections of runners the best facilities and service they can.

“Irish racecourses continue to invest heavily in their infrastructure, and while we welcome the grants available from Horse Racing Ireland, it is important to stress that the majority of the money spent is put up by the racecourses themselves. Making such an investment is a sign of serious commitment on the part of the racecourses to bringing levels of comfort and service to the highest levels possible.”

Many eyes will be trained on the work to be carried out over the next year and a half or so on Ireland’s home of the classics, the Curragh. However, there is also major work in progress or due to start at a number of other racecourses and this is an acknowledgement that every racegoer is treated the same, no matter where they race.

As part of the Petrus Report the results of a survey of overseas visitors was published. This asked respondents the reason they came to Ireland for racing. Two reasons stood head and shoulders over the rest, namely the quality of the horse racing and the fun atmosphere of the meetings.

In the first instance, it is fair to say that many of the best horses in National Hunt racing, and a large number of the best on the flat, are trained and race in Ireland. Work can be done to get more visitors, especially from Britain, to attend meetings in Ireland.

The fun atmosphere is generated when racegoers are having a good time, and this satisfaction is based on the same racegoers having the best of experiences. Irish racecourses strive to ensure this happens and Paddy Walsh is confident that this will be top of the 2017 list of resolutions for all of Ireland’s 26 courses.