RACING:Dublin businessman Joe Keeling is expected to be confirmed as the next chairman of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney today.

Many of Irish racing’s leading personalities are in line for honours at this afternoon’s HRI 2012 Awards ceremony in Leopardstown.

Mr Coveney will be in attendance and weekend reports indicate he has

decided on Mr Keeling as Denis Brosnan’s successor at the top of the HRI board when the current chairman steps down after betting legislation is eventually firmed up.

Mr Keeling is well known in business circles as the boss of big fruit and vegetable import and distribution business Keelings. He has a long history of racehorse ownership, including with Curragh trainer Dermot Weld.