RACING/News: There has been a high profile call to divert a percentage of prize-money in order to keep racecourses afloat. David Power of the Irish National Bookmakers Association has warned Horse Racing Ireland that most race tracks are struggling to be viable. Last year's attendance figures were down three per cent he said.

Power declared: "I call on HRI to review the increase of the already high levels of prize-money for 2003 and instead pay racecourses a levy of five per cent of the prize fund on that track to stage racing.

"On 2003's projected figures, racecourses would benefit by more than €2.25 million and prize-money would still increase above 2002's record levels."