Charlie McConalogue sounds warning to Irish racing after bumpy 2021

Minister for Agriculture said that everyone should remember reputation is fragile

There was public outrage earlier in the year after a photo circulated of Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse. Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho

Wed Dec 15 2021 - 19:45

The Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine Charlie McConalogue has warned Irish racing about sailing “too close to the wind” due to reputational damage in 2021.

Speaking during Wednesday night’s Horse Racing Ireland awards - where the unbeaten Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle was crowned Horse of the Year - the Minister appeared to deliver the sector a pointed slap on the wrist.

On the back of a number of controversies, including public outrage about an image of Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse, as well as the continuing fallout from claims by Jim Bolger that doping is Irish racing’s number one problem, there was a reminder from Government about the importance of maintaining the sport’s reputation.

“It is important that I take this opportunity to remind everyone in the industry that our hard-earned reputation as a global leader is fragile,” Minister McConalogue warned.

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“We are always just around the corner from the next crisis and we must take every proactive step to not only protect but to enhance our reputation.

“This reputation has been earned through the hard work, skill and dedication of so many in the industry.

“On a number of occasions this year we sailed too close to the wind for my liking and we must redouble our efforts in 2022 to safeguard our reputation,” he added.

It was a notable comment from the government which will give racing €70.4 million in funding in 2022. That’s over €6 million less than in 2021.

The impact of such reputational blows has deflected somewhat from a record-breaking year for Irish racing which included an unprecedented 23 winners at the Cheltenham festival.

Rachael Blackmore’s stunning achievements were acknowledged on Wednesday with a Racing Hero prize.

Her best-known mount, Honeysuckle, was crowned Horse of the Year while trainer Henry De Bromhead received the National Hunt award after a unique ‘Grand Slam’ of victories in jump racing’s biggest races.

As well as Honeysuckle, De Bromhead saddled Minella Indo to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Put The Kettle in the Champion Hurdle and topped it all off with Minella Times in the Aintree Grand National.

Blackmore rode Minella Times to a groundbreaking success becoming the first woman to partner the winner of the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Dr Jennifer Pugh, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s chief medical officer, got a Contribution to the Industry award for her work in keeping racing operational during the Covid-19 pandemic.

HRI’s chairman, Nicky Hartery, said: “It is fitting that those who achieved such great success on the racecourses share our awards’ limelight with Dr Jennifer Pugh.

“Jennifer went above and beyond all that is expected of her role of senior medical officer of the IHRB to keep the industry running safely as the Covid-19 pandemic again threatened to disrupt the racing year.

“I thank her most sincerely for all her work and congratulate each of our winners for their tremendous exploits in 2021.”

Tributes were also made to the former HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh who stepped down in September after 20 years at the helm of the semi-state body.

He was succeeded by Suzanne Eade who on Wednesday praised both Jennifer Pugh and Rachael Blackmore.

“Jennifer and Rachael have been two of our leading lights and their awards are so well deserved.

“As we saw at Fairyhouse only a few weeks ago, Honeysuckle is certainly the darling of the racing public and I congratulate her owner Kenny Alexander on her achievement in winning Horse of the Year,” she said.

Colin Keane won the flat award after breaking Joseph O’Brien’s record of winners in a season, winding up with 141 in all. The tally secured Keane a third jockey’s title.