The fallout from the Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy's offer of permanent funding for Irish racing in return for amalgamation took another twist yesterday when the Racecourses Association accused "certain sectors of the industry" of applying "undue pressure" on individual racecourses.
In a statement clearly aimed at the Government-backed Irish Horseracing Authority, the Association of Irish Racecourses revealed it has requested a meeting with the Ministers for Finance and Agriculture over the issue.
At such a meeting, the AIR say they will convey their "concern at the undue pressure, both financial and otherwise, being exerted by certain sectors of the industry on individual racecourses in respect of the proposal for the future financing and re-structuring of the racing industry."
The statement comes with various industry interest groups jockeying for position and the recent declaration of the Gowran Park executive that it fully supports Minister McCreevy's plan, a declaration at variance with the AIR's official stance.
On Tuesday evening, a meeting of representatives from interest groups as varied as the trainers, breeders, owners, jockeys, bloodstock agents and stable staff, is scheduled to take place at the Curragh. The aim is to present a united front to back Minister McCreevy's proposals to give all the money raised by the off course betting tax to racing in return for an amalgamation of the IHA, the Turf Club and the AIR. The latter two groups are withholding their full support for the idea.
The IHA Chief Executive Martin Moore said yesterday he didn't understand the statement from the AIR regarding any "undue pressure".
"Unless someone says X,Y,Z has happened, I'm not in a position to comment. The IHA view is that we haven't done anything to anybody and I'm not sure who this statement is aimed at," said Moore.
Saratoga Springs has been retired to stud, it was announced yesterday. He will stand under the Darley banner in the northern hemisphere at a base to be announced at a later date and will shuttle to Milluna Stud in Australia for the southern hemisphere season this year.
