Irish racing's financial returns for the year 2000 earned a "most satisfactory" report from the Irish Horseracing Authority Chairman Denis Brosnan yesterday.
A colossal total of £161.9 million was bet on Irish racecourses last year which was a 21.3 per cent increase on the 1999 total of £133.5 million.
Attendances were also up 3.4 per cent to 1,354,073 and there was an 18 per cent increase in prizemoney to £24.3 million.
Other increases included a hike in race sponsorship to £5.1 million and £93.7 million worth of thoroughbred horses were publicly sold, an increase of 35.8per cent.
"In all the key areas, the authority successfully achieved the targets set out in its strategic plan," said Brosnan, who is set to chair the newly formed Horse Racing Ireland board which will replace the IHA later in the year.
On the racing front, Johannesburg has tightened even further in ante-post betting for Sunday's Group 1 at Leopardstown and is now a 4 to 6 favourite with Cashmans.
However, it is Galileo that interests Paddy Power, who yesterday started betting on whether the dual-Derby winner would finish his year unbeaten in his three intended remaining races.
Powers go 6 to 1 on the colt winning the Irish Champion Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Breeders Cup. It is 4 to 1 that he will win none of the three, and 6 to 4 he will win one or two.
Barry Geraghty, with a strike rate close to 50 per cent at Kilbeggan, could double up to take his term total to seven winners.
A Few Bob Back won a handicap at Sligo on Wednesday for John Hassett and should not be bothered by the extra half mile to travel in the first handicap hurdle while Geraghty's mount in the opener, Just A Spin, can improve on a Navan fourth to Kadir in May. Splendida can pick up the mares maiden hurdle for Jessica Harrington and Winter Whisper, fourth to Maiden Over at Galway, looks good for the Beginners Chase.
