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Horse Racing

Ireland is a centre for horseracing and horse breeding, giving many opportunities for horse lovers to enjoy the thrills of the races. Horseracing is one of the most exciting sporting activities to watch. The thrills of placing a bet and cheering for a horse to win bring spectators on a wild emotional rollercoaster. Adrenaline levels run high as the eyes of race-goers attentively follow each step of the horse right through to the finishing line.

The joys of horseracing are exhilarating, and hardly anyone can resist to be drawn into the  kind of entertainment it provides. Clients, business partners or staff members, everyone enjoys a day at the races. In Ireland, it is as much a cultural phenomenon as it is a sport, in fact.

Ireland has a high profile when it comes to horseracing. With 27 racecourses across the country attracting 1.45 million spectators in 2006, horseracing has earned an important place in the Irish social and economic fabric. Like nowhere else in Europe are horses regarded as noble animals worthy of respect. There is a real pride and tradition  reflected in the practices and standards of the horseracing industry.
There is no shortage of races in Ireland. Each year, the Easter Irish Grand National Festival at Fairyhouse Racecourse outside Dublin, as well as Munster’s own Easter Festival at Cork Racecourse in Mallow, mark the commencement of the horseracing season. These events are followed only two weeks later by the eagerly awaited Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchetown, Co Kildare.

The month of May sees the first of the summer Classics at Curragh, also in Co Kildare, for a two-day meeting attended by Europe’s top thoroughbreds. Curragh is one of the most renowned Irish courses, known for its flat racing; it holds the largest flat racing event – the Budweiser Irish Derby – which every year in June is celebrated by hefty crowds of horseracing enthusiasts.

In July, Killarney presents a most picturesque setting for the four-day festival with its course situated between the town and lakes. But the most acclaimed event happens at the end of the month with the Galway Racing Festival spread over a week of extravaganza, becoming the raison d’être of Galway and the centre of attention in the whole of Ireland for its duration.

In August, Tramore sets the ground for four days of racing, and at the end of the month, the races return to Kerry for the Tralee Festival, which combines the excitement of horseracing with the traditional Rose of Tralee Festival.
Staying in Kerry, September sets the end of summer mood with the seven-day Listowel Harvest Festival where spectators can enjoy a traditional atmosphere. The last month of the horseracing season, October sees the two-day Gowran Lark meeting close to Kilkenny before pausing to gather again for the Christmas and New Year meetings at the Leopardstown and Limerick racecourses.

But Ireland is not only a world leader in horseracing events, it is also a central place for horse breeding. According to Horse Racing Ireland, Ireland is the largest producer of foals in Europe, which amount to over 11,500 annually.

Owning a horse is, indeed, a dream for many horse lovers and racing enthusiasts, as it makes the thrills of seeing the horse run and, hopefully, win even more exhilarating. However, with high costs involved, not only in the purchase but also in the maintenance, owning a horse requires a significant investment. A new trend has however emerged in recent years that makes it more accessible to everyone: syndication.

This alternative method of payment relegates the responsibility of training and maintenance, while offering the most thrilling aspects of owning a winning racehorse, at a fraction of the price. Today, according to Horse Racing Ireland figures, out of the 5,200 racehorses in the country, just over half are owned by a single individual and 1,450 are owned by a syndicate. 30 are the property of companies.
The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) offers impartial advice to people interested in breeding, racing or indeed buying bloodstock in Ireland. Owning a racehorse can give a company a special quality to present to clients and business partners. If attending a horserace is an exciting pursuit in itself, the enjoyment is multiplied when one has a special interest in it.

Horseracing has traditionally been a place where business people meddle together. Sharing tips, observing tactics, cheering for a horse are all part of the interaction that takes place at the races. This gives way for closer relationships, where mutual trust can grow and interests can be shared.
Staff parties too are a popular business gathering at horse races. The anticipation to experience the pure excitement of the races will score high in popularity among employees. It is also a sporting activity that appeals to all ages and all genders, and being a cultural pillar of Ireland, it is also popular with all nationalities. This therefore makes horseracing a good compromise if the demographical make-out of your staff is very diverse.

Horseracing is such a cultural and social activity, it is hard to imagine how it could not in any way be appreciated for the enjoyment that it brings to whomever ventures on a racecourse.