HORSE Racing Ireland chief executive Suzanne Eade has welcomed news that the racing authority will receive Government funding of €72.8 million next year.

The figure, confirmed by the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue in a Department media briefing on Wednesday morning, represents an increase of €2.4 million (3.4%) on the 2022 grant.

“I welcome today’s Budget 2023 announcement and the positive news for the horseracing and breeding industry in Ireland,” Eade said.

“We are all aware of the contribution that the industry makes to the economy, and that was very evident in all of the Budget engagements we had throughout the last few months with Minister McConalogue and his officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

“There are always extra details in a Budget like this that take time to analyse, and we will take this week to understand what all of the measures mean for the industry. The executive in HRI will begin work with the Board of HRI to formulate a budget for 2023 on behalf of the industry, which we will sign off at our December board meeting.”

Racing’s annual grant

2014: €43 million

2015: €54 million

2016: €59 million

2017: €64 million

2018: €64 million

2019: €67.2 million

2020: €67.2 million

2021: €76.8 million

2022: €70.4 million

2023: €72.8 million

MORE INDUSTRY REACTION TO BUDGET 2023 IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND