By Dan Walsh
Over 40 horse trainers and point-to-point handlers currently operating in Co. Wexford are calling on Wexford-based Minister for State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for law reform, James Browne TD, expressing concerns around the future broadcasting of Irish race meetings and the gambling advertising watershed ban which is proposed in the Gambling Regulation Bill.
The correspondence, which has the full backing of the Irish Racehorse Trainer’s Association, released to the media, and seen by WexfordLocal.com begins as follows; “We, your constituents, represent over 40 yards and support close to 400 full and part-time employees as well as creating a very substantial amount of indirect employment.”
“You (Minister Browne) may not realise but over the last two years Wexford-based trainers and handlers have been responsible for the sale of horses to the value of over €45 million. It is a great source of pride to us that our efforts and success have resulted in a major boost to local economies throughout the county, especially within the last decade.
“In recent weeks we have become aware of the Gambling Regulation Bill which is likely to be passed into law later this year. As a body we wholeheartedly support any form of gambling regulation and anything that can be done to protect the vulnerable and most at risk in our society is paramount. So before proceeding any further we want to impress upon you our belief that the Gambling Regulation Bill is a necessary and positive addition to legislation in Ireland.
“However, lately there have been reports in the media that the dedicated horse racing subscription channels – Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing – are seriously worried about their ability to continue broadcasting Irish race meetings to an Irish audience in light of the gambling advertising watershed ban which is proposed within the Gambling Regulation Bill.
“Television coverage, which encompasses the two aforementioned channels along with RTE, TG4 and Virgin Media, represents one of the key pillars in our ability to market the sport and, as importantly, our bloodstock. So, if racing were to disappear from our screens, we believe it would have a detrimental effect on both the hugely successful Irish racing industry and our pivotal point-to-point sector which underpins local economies throughout Wexford.
“The ability to watch live racing pictures from Irish tracks is still a comparatively new phenomenon but it is one which is now a vital component to the overall health of the racing industry. It enables the sport to seamlessly reach its core fan base while also helping to attract new business to all in our local area and beyond.
“Therefore, we are seriously worried that if racing was to disappear from our television screens because it is no longer commercially viable for these channels to broadcast here at home, it would represent a terrible blow to our livelihoods not to mention the impact it would have on local economies throughout the county.
“Fundamentally It will greatly undermine our ability to sell horses to anybody but overseas clients as Irish interest in Irish racing would unquestionably diminish sharply in the absence of live television pictures.
“Minister, we would plead with you avoid what is an unintended consequence of this extremely worthwhile and necessary piece of legislation and work towards creating the sort of exemptions already place in other jurisdictions such as Australia and Britain that will allow these TV channels (that are already behind paywalls) to work in a commercial environment where it is attractive for them to continue to broadcast Irish racing here in Ireland and not just to a UK audience where no similar commercial restrictions apply.”
WexfordLocal.com 