RACEHORSE owners and breeders have welcomed this week’s news that Kildare TD Martin Heydon has been appointed Minister for Agriculture.

His portfolio includes responsibility for the racing and breeding industry, a sector the Fine Gael politician has shown plenty of interest in during his career.

The Department of Agriculture is the biggest single source of funds for the racing industry via its annual grant to Horse Racing Ireland. The 2025 grant is just under €80 million, up €3 million on the previous year. A farmer himself, Heydon (46) was Minister for State in the Department of Agriculture during the last Government.

In 2023 he announced that the Department’s Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme [TAMS] grant system had been extended to the equine sector for the first time.

The Irish Throughbred Breeders’ Association [ITBA] credited Heydon for the role he played in the lifting of VAT on temporary equine imports from the UK into Ireland, a Brexit hangover which damaged the breeding sector here.

Regina Byrne, manager of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, said: “We are delighted to see Martin Heydon receive his richly deserved senior Ministerial position in the new Government. We have had many interactions with Minister Heydon and his team over the years and his support and understanding of our industry has been evident and greatly appreciated over that time.

“He has been our special guest at our annual awards and we look forward to continuing our good working relationship with him and his team.”

Peter O’Reilly, chief executive of the ITBA, said: “We are delighted with Martin’s appointment. Born and reared in the thoroughbred county, Martin has been a huge help and support to us in the breeding industry for many years.”

He added: “Whether it be helping and encouraging breeders at our awards and seminars or assisting us on issues that impact the industry like TAMS, he has always gone out of his way to help us as much as he can.

“As a significant rural industry with plenty of headwinds, it is so important for us to have a Minister that has his finger firmly on the pulse and Martin certainly has. We very much look forward to working with him and his Department and wish him the very best of luck in his new role.”

Minister Heydon is expected to appear at this evening’s ITBA National Breeding and Racing Awards at The Heritage Hotel in Killenard, Co Laois. The guest list also includes East Cork TD James O’Connor and Nina Carberry MEP.

Westmeath TD Peter Burke, another keen racing supporter, was the only minister to keep their old portfolio in the new Government. He remains as Minister for Enterprise and Employment.

Watch ITBA Awards online

THIS evening’s ITBA National Breeding and Racing Awards will be streamed live on itba.ie from 10pm.