RACING: Horse Racing Ireland is set to help formulate a racegoers charter, which will lay down minimum standards at Ireland's racetracks for those paying through the gates.
The sport's ruling body will consult with the racecourses association about matters relating to facilities, admission prices and other issues of concern to punters and racing fans.
The move comes on the back of yesterday's publication of a racegoers' consultative forum, which was launched by the Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, in Killarney.
The forum, which consists of 12 racegoers from a broad range of backgrounds, was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, and yesterday's report is the result of six public forums held around the country in the past 18 months.
The aim has been to report the ordinary racegoer's experience and Minister O'Donoghue said yesterday: "The intention was to give the racegoer a means of direct communication with the board of HRI.
"This report sets out the notion of a racegoers' charter which will establish minimum standards of facilities for all racegoers. I am confident that HRI and the racecourses will rise to the challenge."
The forum reported unease at how the adoption of a code of practice by Ireland's on-course bookmakers in 2004 is not being abided to by all bookies. It also states the prohibition of single bets at racecourse SP shops should be reconsidered and that bookmakers must be more "consumer friendly" to punters.
Another part of the report suggests the majority of people who go racing in Ireland do so for social reasons and states: "To increase attendance figures, we suggest a concentration of effort on pricing, promotion, educating and informing racegoers and simplifying racing."
Other recommendations include a single loyalty card to reward regular racegoers and better facilities for children and the disabled as well as the need to improve coverage of the sport on national radio.
A flat-rate admission price is also recommended for each racecourse, based on the level of facilities provided, with increases deemed justifiable only on the basis of better racing.
