THE Association of Irish Racehorse Owners [AIRO] has welcomed the decision by Horse Racing Ireland [HRI] to raise prize money for most blacktype races to pre-Covid levels in 2025, but the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association [IRTA] says the overall increase to the prize fund next year does not go far enough.

Last week, HRI revealed that total prize money will only go up by 1.4% in 2025 and that they are focusing the extra money on blacktype races, restoring most of them to pre-Covid levels.

On the flat, listed races will see an increased minimum from €37,500 to €45,000 (+20%), while Group 3 races will see a rise from €50,000 to €60,000 (+20%).

Over jumps, the purses for open Grade 3 races will rise in the minimum from €27,500 to €37,500 (+36%), while open Grade 2 races will increase from €35,000 to €45,000 (+29%).

Novice Grade 3 races will rise from €27,500 to €30,000 (+9%), while novice Grade 2 races will see a rise from €35,000 to €37,500 (+7%).

The total prize money budget for 2025 is €70.9m, up €1 million on the overall prize money that will be paid out in 2024.

Feidhlim Cunningham, chief executive of the IRTA, said: “We need to be fully cognisant of where Irish racing sits on the world stage and prize money is a key driver in this regard. Restoring prize money levels for various blacktype categories to the pre-Covid era is essential.

“That is welcomed, but such an increase does have to be measured against the current climate. The overall increase of 1.4% does not go far enough, when you take into account inflation and rising costs that the industry continues to grapple with.”

David Hyland, AIRO chairman, commented: “It’s well-documented that we in AIRO have been lobbying HRI for years now for an increase in prize money, especially in the mid-sector of both codes.

“Realistically, the blacktype races have just reverted to pre-Covid (2019) levels, but it is a welcome restoration and something we have been repeatedly asking for. The increments being applied to each step in the new handicap bands is also a step in the right direction.

“We are heartened to see that prize money increases will be an area of focus for the coming years and we will be keeping the pressure on to ensure that this part of HRI’s Strategic Plan is adhered to.”

HRI also plans to spend an extra €200,000 on “equine welfare activities and welfare-related grant funding” in 2025. This will include an increased contribution to Treo Eile, the organisation which connects retired racehorses with individuals who can re-train and re-home them.

Hyland said: “It is also really good to see a focus on equine welfare in this budget which, in our opinion, is one of the biggest threats to our industry. We fully endorse the support of Treo Eile in the budget and plan to engage with other industry stakeholders to ensure a progressive plan is put in place for full life-long traceability, together with the retraining and rehoming of ex-racehorses to include retirement and end of life options.”