OFFICIALS from every Irish racecourse will vote on a media rights deal believed to be worth €47 million per year next Tuesday at an extraordinary general meeting of the Association of Irish Racecourses [AIR] in Co Kildare.

The deal, which signs over the rights to Sport Information Services [SIS] and Racecourse Media Group [RMG] for a further five years, has majority support but up to seven smaller racecourses have voiced concerns and five of them have hinted at switching to Arena Racecourse Company, which has links with Sky Sports Racing.

Kilbeggan, Roscommon, Limerick, Sligo and Thurles have formed United Irish Racecourses [UIR] and, as a group, have informed AIR and Horse Racing Ireland [HRI] of their concerns. They say HRI is taking too large a percentage of the media rights money, and they believe smaller tracks are being short-changed by the payment model which is based on betting turnover.

It’s understood that UIR requested a delay to next Tuesday’s meeting but AIR has insisted it goes ahead.

Paul Hensey, the recently appointed chief executive of AIR, told The Irish Field yesterday: “Tuesday’s meeting will give racecourses an opportunity to vote on a number of resolutions, including the media rights contract from SIS and RMG.

“It’s a very good deal for all racecourses. At the close of the tendering process, it was unquestionably the best offer received for all courses. That was the opinion of the Media Rights Committee, the executives, advisors and consultants, and that view was independently verified by one of the big four accountancy firms.”

Hensey said he was not aware of a precedent where all racecourses did not agree to go with the same media rights deal. “Our aim is to get all racecourses on board, but it is not mandatory for a track to accept the deal just because the majority support it. The board of AIR has agreed that no member should be forced to sign.” However, the path for any racecourse which opts out of the deal is unclear. Under legislation the sale of media rights for racecourses can only be negotiated by the Media Rights Committee, which consists of senior HRI and AIR personnel.

The existing deal expires at the end of this year and getting the terms of a second deal done before that deadline could prove tricky, given the circumstances.

Hensey added: “In recent weeks the Media Rights Committee members have made themselves available to answer questions and have discussions with tracks who have concerns. I have to say we seem to be in a positive place at the moment.”

Separately, there remains a doubt over whether Dundalk Stadium will sign the deal as the track has received “an expression of interest” from Arena Racecourse Company over a possible sale.

A source told The Irish Field the chances of a sale have cooled in recent weeks, though still possible, and that relations between the all-weather track and HRI have improved, following a dispute over a €1 million fixtured surcharge.