Racing

Horse Racing Ireland’s 2025 budget increases prize money to almost €71m

Leading jockey JJ Slevin returns from extended injury lay-off with single mount at Thurles on Saturday

Curragh Racecourse, Co Kildare: There will be an increase in the minimum value for Listed races on the flat to €45,000, up from €37,500. Group Three races will rise €10,000 to a minimum €50,000. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Curragh Racecourse, Co Kildare: There will be an increase in the minimum value for Listed races on the flat to €45,000, up from €37,500. Group Three races will rise €10,000 to a minimum €50,000. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Brian O'Connor
Sat Dec 21 2024 - 06:00

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has announced there will be record levels of prize money up for grabs in 2025.

Racing’s ruling body revealed its 2025 budget on Friday, and it has total prize money for next year of €70. 9 million. That’s up €1 million on this year. The budget was approved by the HRI board on Monday.

Among the targeted moves for specific level races is an increase in the minimum value for Listed races on the flat to €45,000, up from €37,500. Group Three races will jump €10,000 to a minimum €50,000.

Over jumps open Grade Three contests will have a minimum value of €37,500 (from €27,500) while Grade Two races will also rise by €10,000 to €45,000.

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“HRI have consulted with key stakeholders in determining both prize money strategy and funding the handicap band changes for 2025, including optimising the impact of racecourse contributions to prize money.

“These changes are seen as crucial to the attraction of inward investment into Irish racing, the widening of the ownership base, and the retention of both owners and horses,” said HRI chief executive Suzanne Eade.

Separately, a €200,000 increase will occur in investment for equine welfare activities and welfare-related grant funding, taking it to €3.7 million.

HRI said there will be financial support for key agencies in the life of horses and its Equine Safety Racecourse Capital Development Project will deliver big changes next year.

Leopardstown Racecourse before the races commence. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Leopardstown Racecourse before the races commence. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

It also said the Irish Equine Centre campus redevelopment project will be supported and HRI will extend its commitment to the rehoming body, Treo Eile.

Integrity funding will grow by €500,000 to €17.8 million. HRI said it will provide strong governance for the industry, ensuring the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board delivers an uncompromising approach to integrity.

HRI got €79.2 million in Government funding in October’s budget through the Horse & Greyhound Fund. That was a €3.2 million increase on 2024.

Also listed for funding next year is the proposed People Campus at Race in Kildare town while this spring is set to mark the start of work on the new all-weather circuit at Tipperary racecourse, a facility owned by HRI.

Ms Eade also said on Friday: “In order to provide consistent and responsible care of our people, horses and our environment there has been targeted and enhanced expenditure across integrity, welfare, and sustainability in both activity and capital-related costs.

“Inspiring and attracting future participation both nationally and internationally has been addressed through continued support of the IRE Incentive Scheme for breeders, marketing and communication campaigns targeting engagement, growing interest in our sport coupled with a further focus on attracting racegoers to flat racing, as well as continued investment into technology.”

The People Campus will see HRI combine with the Irish Injured Jockeys to develop a high-performance unit and rehabilitation facilities to support mental and physical wellbeing of industry participants.

JJ Slevin broke a bone in his foot at the start of October and has endured a frustratingly long recovery. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
JJ Slevin broke a bone in his foot at the start of October and has endured a frustratingly long recovery. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

In other news, in advance of next week’s Christmas festival action, leading jockey JJ Slevin makes his return to the saddle at Thurles on Saturday.

Slevin broke a bone in his foot at the start of October and has endured a frustratingly long recovery. Three weeks ago, he accepted HRI’s Ride of the Year award for his Galway Hurdle-winning spin on Nurburgring, on crutches.

That was for his cousin Joseph O’Brien who also supplies Slevin’s sole ride to get up to speed in advance of Christmas.

Cottleshoe Sunshine takes her chance in the Listed Billy Harney Memorial Mares Hurdle and the Limerick maiden winner should relish the unseasonably good ground conditions and the two-mile trip.

Course winner Dream On Baby represents Emmet Mullins and she impressed on her first start for the trainer over three-quarters of a mile further last month.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column