Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Harness Racing Industry Development Needs: Discussion

2:15 pm

Photo of Mary Ann O'BrienMary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for providing us with such a fantastic information pack and presentation. I never thought of trotting happening on grass tracks. Does it only take place on dirt tracks or can it take place on grass tracks? With regard to it taking place on grass tracks, I was the marketing manager of a racecourse for ten years and I ran a grass track and protecting the turf for all our meetings was a full-time occupation. If I was running a race track and the witnesses approached me, it would be different because there are wheels involved. The weather here means there is a great deal of rain and there is soft ground, going to good ground, as a result. Perhaps the witnesses will comment on that.

I was appalled to see in the presentation that HRI had the power to come between the IHRA and a private race track. If Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív owns the race track in Galway, for example, the delegates cannot ask him if they can pay him to use it. He said, "I wish they did." I have been involved in different parts of the horse industry. My daughter is a showjumper, but we do not hang out or have anything to do with the showing or eventing people, even though we are all involved in the horse industry. They are different bodies. In the case of thoroughbreds, flat racing and national hunt racing are two different worlds. Tillage farming is different from dairy farming and beef production is different from sheep production. It is, therefore, not simple. Horses have four legs, but we all live in different worlds that are worlds apart.

Does the industry have a business plan for the Government? I would love to see it. Representatives of the thoroughbred industry appear before the committee and have an amazing record. The industry is ranked as one of the best in the world. We have the best breeders, export many amazing thoroughbreds and the industry employs an amazing number of people in rural areas. Do the delegates have a projected plan for who the industry might employ? I am also anxious to hear a projection for betting and tax revenue and what the delegates think could happen. Then, to be honest, it would be a no-brainer and we would have to put a case, if people want to have this sport in this country.

What will we do? The track in Dundalk was a great success, but what other tracks are there? It cannot all be based in Dundalk. The rest of Ireland must be considered.

Let us say I wished to become involved in trotting. How would I get my horses fit? Obviously, if I intended to train them, I would wish to train them in a trotting fashion with a harness. Would I have to work them on the road or would I need a track?

I echo the sentiments of other committee members. I, too, am interested to hear how we could help with sulky racing and bring in those involved in order that we can stop the obvious cruelty that has been occurring. It would be wonderful to get the veterinarian and welfare side right in order that sulky racing could be brought under control. I am interested in hearing any further commentary on that issue the experts may have to make.

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