The harness racing industry in Ireland has reason to celebrate for consecutive Saturdays after announcing on March 24 that government funding has been approved for the Irish Harness Racing Association's Five-Year Strategic Plan.
The update from Chairman Mark Flanagan was posted to the Association's website.
The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine have signed off and approved funding that will enable the IHRA to deliver our Five Year Strategic Plan.
This vote of confidence by Minister (Michael) Creed and his Department means that we are all now a step closer to delivering a harness industry that will provide you with more:
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prize money
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improved infrastructure
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new tracks
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new training centres
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more horses being bred
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new owners being welcomed to the sport
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new trainers
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more job opportunities
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other industry benefits for vets, farriers, grooms
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…and much more.
Previously Minister Creed has said:
"…As a Department, we see a public gain to be had from working with the (harness racing) sector…and…we recognize the potential of the IHRA to become the kind of body with which we can engage in a structured way and into which we confidently invest taxpayers’ money…"
This is what the Five-Year Strategic Plan will deliver.
Minister Creed and his Department are now following through on their word and showing a true commitment to the long-term future of harness racing in Ireland.
Over the coming weeks IHRA will work toward the development of this Five-Year Strategic Plan and it will become the roadmap identifying all that Irish Harness Racing can and will be in the coming years.
IHRA will be conducting open forums and meetings with its members during the coming weeks. A questionnaire and information gathering from Members will form part of the Five-Year Strategic Plan. Questions, comments, suggestions and issues can be raised and the end result will be the publication of a document and vision the industry can be proud of.
This funding from the Department of Agriculture is recognition and acknowledges of all that we have achieved during these past five years.
Achievements include:
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Establishing oversight of the Irish harness racing industry as an Association to oversee the sport across the Isle of Ireland
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Joining ‘French Mentoring Programme’ sponsored by Le-Trot
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Receipt of prizemoney subsidies
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Assistance with the cost of purchasing a horse
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Purchasing of more than two hundred horses from three-year olds upwards, encouraging existing and new owners
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Participating in an extensive audit throughout 2015 from which IHRA earned the right to become an active member of the Union of European Trotting (UET)
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Fostering ongoing relationships with Horse Sport Ireland, the French Consulate, as well the World Trotting Association and many other nations
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Ongoing growth of Ireland’s premier harness racing weekend – the Vincent Delaney Memorial – with increasing attendances both domestically and especially internationally since its inception five years ago
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Taking Irish racing international with meetings from Dundalk broadcast and bet on in the United Kingdom and Australia in 2016
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Expanding this international programme in 2017 when Irish trotting received its first PMU meeting in June where four races were wagered on in France, globally the largest harness racing market
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Being granted a further PMU meeting in 2018
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In 2016 purchasing forty-three pregnant mares from France, thereby establishing the foundation for Ireland to commence working toward the long-term goal of becoming an important breeding country of trotting horses for Europe
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Initiating and successfully implementing an integration programme with the support of Government Departments entrusting the IHRA with financial support and backing
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Continuing to work toward delivering initiatives that will bring new and fresh talent to the sport
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Participating in activities for young people like the Apprentice Championship where the winner of the trotting series (U25) will represent Ireland in the European Championship in September
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Celebrating the success of Sean Kane who is currently receiving great recognition on the podium across Europe
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Sending top drivers to represent Ireland in International events in France and elsewhere
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Successfully lobbying the Government to have an independent report prepared on harness racing in Ireland
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Having an independent organisation engaged by the Department of Agriculture to Review the Irish Harness Racing Sector
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Receiving the Indecon Report actioned by Minister Creed and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine which indicated that expansion of the sector is possible and that funding – both seed and state should be considered
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Confirming that the Irish harness racing industry can be an equal to both Horse Racing Ireland and the Greyhounds
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Becoming an industry that receives the full backing and support of the Government and across all Parties and Independent TD’s and Senators
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Achieving a fourfold increase in industry turnover during the past four years with a projected 25 percent increase budgeted for 2018
Through your commitment as Members all of this has been made possible. Through your ongoing support this will continue to be made possible.
At this point in time I wish to thank the IHRA Board as well as our Consultant and the role each person has played in developing the industry.
Most of all I wish to thank and applaud you the stakeholders who have enabled us to come this far and who are helping us to continually grow and expand in to the future, this wonderful sport in Ireland.
MARK FLANAGAN
Chairman, Irish Harness Racing Association