Horse racing in Ireland
The ancient text Togail Bruidne Dá Derga (Destruction of the Mansion of Da-Derga) mentions chariot races taking place on the Curragh during the lifetime of the monarch Conaire Mór,[1][2] whose reign is disputed but is believed to have occurred sometime between 110 BC[3] and 60 AD.
[4] The use of the Curragh as an early location for horse racing is also mentioned in a gloss to the 7th century Liber Hymnorum.
[9] The earliest datable evidence, however, is a 1603 royal warrant entitling the governor of Derry to hold fairs and markets at which horse races could be staged.
[2] In a correspondence to King Charles II in 1673, Sir William Temple stated "Horses in Ireland are a drug... we see horses bred of excellent shape, and vigour, and size, so as to reach great prices at home, and encourage strangers to find the market here.
[15][16] The Curragh was awarded its plate in the 1670s, followed by the establishment in 1685 of a studbook under the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders to promote the breeding of racehorses.
[18] The origin of the Steeplechase was a 4.5 mile match race between Buttevant and Doneraile, County Cork, across natural countryside, beginning and ending at the eponymous steeples of each of the towns.
[20][22] The early steeplechases offered little more than an agreed-upon landmarks as start and finish points, with the riders free to choose their own path, but later races used a line of flags to indicate a determined course.
The ban led to public outcry, especially in Ireland where some 20,000 people were believed to be employed in the embattled racing industry.
Fearing further unrest, the British government gave a concession to allow the Curragh festival of 8–10 May, finally relenting on 20 June.
[29] As early as 1926, the Irish Free State legislated to allow off-course betting, and the Tote was introduced in 1930 to raise funds for the industry.
[30] The Emergency that accompanied the Second World War was reportedly beneficial to horse racing, as restrictions on foreign and motor travel led to an increase in spectator numbers.
The Irish horse racing industry is today worth €1 billion per annum, employs over 14,000 people, and is a major player on the international scene.
Run over a minimum of 2 miles, National Hunt races require the horses to clear a number of obstacles.
[45][46][49] More than 1.3m people visit Irish racecourses each year,[46] with crowds in excess of 100,000 annually attending both the Punchestown Festival in April, and the Galway Races in July.
[61] It has been suggested that the success of Irish Thoroughbreds, both at home and abroad, is partly due to its climate and geography;[64][10][59][58][65] the wet, temperate climate and limestone-rich soil encourages the growth of calcium-containing grass,[10][65] while the mild temperatures and lack of seasonal variability allow year-round grazing.
In terms of geology and climate, our country is an ideal location for the raising of young horses.Thoroughbred breeding in Ireland is intricately linked with Irish rural life and community.
[72] Point-to-point races are open only to non-professional jockeys, who must register as "Qualified Riders" but need not meet the requirements for Flat or National Hunt licences.
[58] Horse racing organisations are funded through a number of sources, including membership fees, taxation of betting, a foal registration levy, profits from the Tote, and direct contribution from the Government of the Republic of Ireland.
[87][88][89][48] The Irish Stablestaff Association (ISSA) lobbies for improved working conditions and pay for stable staff.
