Horse Racing Ireland

[1] HRI's mission statement is "to develop and promote Ireland as a world centre of excellence for horse racing and breeding".

In April 2020 the then-CEO of HRI, Brian Kavanagh, said that with the benefit of hindsight the 2020 Cheltenham Festival should not have taken place or should have been held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[2] HRI funds the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, which enforces the rules of racing, including doping control, handicapping and licensing.

[3] In addition to fulfilling regulatory and promotional functions, HRI owns Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan and Tipperary racecourses.

Figures released by HRI showed that bloodstock sales, Tote betting and racecourse attendances produced significant growth in 2011, marking a positive upturn for the industry which had suffered severe contraction since 2007 across almost all areas.