INTERNATIONAL discussions have started about creating a worldwide Grand Prix style horse racing circuit for the next century.
The outgoing senior steward of the Turf Club, Michael Osborne, revealed yesterday that discussions are "well under way" to establishing a circuit where the world's best horses would compete every six weeks in an eight race series at different venues throughout the world.
"Golf, tennis and motor racing have created world names like Greg Norman and Michael Schumacher, and yet racing has fallen behind. Cigar was the last horse that the general public recognised as a good racehorse and we want more of them. This proposed circuit could create those household names and raise racing's profile," Osborne said.
Nine countries, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, France, Britain, Ireland, Canada and the US, are involved in the discussions. Only four year olds and upwards will be eligible and the distance of the races is likely to be 10 furlongs.
"We can't interfere with the world pattern race system. It will need a lot of international cooperation and it will be difficult, but to say it can't be done is to say we can't create world stars in international racing. Bernie Ecclestone proved by building the world formula one circuit that it's not impossible," Osborne added.
Emerging three year olds in their classic year will not have established their names sufficiently in time for the proposed series, but Osborne pointed to the upcoming Coronation Cup at Epsom where Arc winner Helissio is due to meet the Dubai World Cup winner, Singspiel, as the type of clash that stimulates public interest.
An essential feature of a new circuit would be international pool betting, of which each participating countries would get their share. However, Japan's limitations on money leaving the country is proving a sticking point. Osborne admitted that the circuit is unlikely to be up and running within three years, but added that a decision is likely to be reached at the next Breeders' Cup meeting.
Osborne was speaking at the presentation of the Turf Club accounts, where he officially handed over the reins to new senior steward Professor Michael MacCormac.
The Turf Club's 1996 accounts showed a profit of £324,000 against a 1995 loss of £97,000. It was the first profitable year since 1991 and losses accumulated since then amounted to over £400,000. The return to profitability was credited to an 11 per cent increase in racing administration income, full reimbursement from the Irish Horseracing Authority for providing integrity costs, a reduction in the loss of the Curragh and an increase in investment income of £115,000.
It was announced that the overnight declaration of jockeys is planned to be introduced on December 1st, after extensive reprogramming of the Turf Club computer system. "We don't want to see blanks on the Irish race programmes carried by the media," Osborne declared.
He added that Turf Club charges to owners will be reduced to 1991 levels, starting on June 1st. This move, he said, had been delayed by the previous underfunding of the integrity services. "We are very pleased that the IHA has lived up to its obligations to pay for the integrity services," Osborne said.
The Horseracing Authority themselves announced yesterday that on course betting returns for the first quarter of 1997 are significantly up on last year.
Up to March 30th, Tote betting increased by 9.2 per cent and bookmaker betting on the home meetings was up 8.4 per cent. Since March 30th, the figures increased with the Tote up 13.6 per cent and bookmaker betting up 12.5 per cent.
The Tote reached a record figure of £1,206,926 at the Punchestown festival, up 17.3 per cent, and the bookmaker total at the meeting was up 23.35 per cent to £3,160,255.
