WEST (GALWAY/MAYO/ ROSCOMMON) THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BREEDING AND RACING IN YOUR REGION CONTENTS FOREWORD 04 REGIONAL ANALYSIS 06 THE ECONOMIC IMPACT 15 OF ONE RACEHORSE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 17 BREEDING AND RACING IN IRELAND SUCCESS OF IRISH 20 BREEDING AND RACING REPORT PREPARATION 22 METHODOLOGY AND LIMITATIONS 2 HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST DERRY WEST DONEGAL ANTRIM (GALWAY/MAYO/ROSCOMMON) TYRONE FERMANAGH ARMAGH DOWN MONAGHAN REGIONAL SUMMARY SLIGO LEITRIM 975 Direct, indirect CAVAN and secondary MAYO LOUTH ROSCOMMON employment LONGFORD BALLINROBE ROSCOMMON 191,962 Attendees MEATH at racing WESTMEATH DUBLIN GALWAY €103m Total direct and GALWAY stimulated OFFALY expenditure KILDARE €5m Bloodstock sales LAOIS WICKLOW by vendors CLARE CARLOW TIPPERARY KILKENNY LIMERICK WEXFORD KERRY WATERFORD CORK Racecourses HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST 3 FOREWORD BREEDING AND RACING ENJOYS A RICH TRADITION OF SUCCESS IN THE WEST OF IRELAND. AS WELL AS SUCCESS ON THE TRACK AND IN THE BREEDING SHEDS, THE INDUSTRY PROVIDES NEARLY 1,000 JOBS IN THE WEST AND OVER €100m IN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE. THREE HUGELY POPULAR RACECOURSES IN THE REGION ARE AMONG THE BEST ATTENDED IN THE COUNTRY AND ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. 4 HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST WEST It is a great privilege to introduce Deloitte’s Deloitte estimate in this new report that This document first provides a specific Economic Impact Study into the Breeding and Breeding and Racing is an integral part of the overview of the contribution of horseracing Racing Industry in the West, for the first time rural economy of the West, contributing nearly to the counties of Galway, Mayo and capturing the contribution this industry makes 1,000 jobs in direct, indirect and secondary Roscommon. This is followed by an overview to life – social and economic – in counties employment, and over €100m of expenditure of the Irish Breeding and Racing industry Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. per annum. including the economic impact of the industry and the success of the industry on Two years ago, in spring 2017, Horse Racing There is a rich history of Breeding and Racing an international scale. Ireland commissioned Deloitte to quantify the in this area, one that the people of the West up-to-date economic impact of Irish Breeding should feel very proud of, and that tradition of This document and Racing, and Deloitte’s report confirmed excellence has fuelled a vital rural industry. incorporates the incredible dividend provided by the summarised findings industry with almost 29,000 direct and indirect It all makes more relevant the issue of a long- from the Economic jobs across the country, and over €1.8 billion term and sustainable funding structure for Impact of Irish Breeding in expenditure. the industry, which can allow it develop to its and Racing 2017. full potential, increasing both the economic From that report in 2017 – a summary and social dividend for Galway, Mayo and The full report can be of which is contained at the back of this Roscommon, and to that end we would ask downloaded at https://www. document – we were able to measure the politicians from all parties to provide the hri.ie/press-office/economic-impact/ phenomenal international success of Irish- necessary policy support for this to happen. bred horses and its export reach. Brian Kavanagh Domestically, the report calculated that 92% Chief Executive of the 6,777 registered breeders in the country Horse Racing Ireland have fewer than five mares, and with breeders in every county, trainers in most counties and 26 racecourses dotted around the country, it made sense to dig deeper and assess the impact of Breeding and Racing in counties and regions across Ireland, and explore the spread of that economic reach. HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST 5 REGIONAL SUMMARY: WEST 975 191,962 DIRECT, INDIRECT AND SECONDARY ATTENDEES AT RACING EMPLOYMENT €103m TOTAL DIRECT AND STIMULATED EXPENDITURE €5m BLOODSTOCK SALES BY VENDORS 6 HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST WEST THE WEST REGION COVERS The most significant economic contributor to The €50m of direct expenditure in turn leads the Breeding and Racing industry in the region to an additional indirect expenditure of €53m, THE THREE COUNTIES OF is the Galway Festival which attracts huge composed of the secondary business-to- GALWAY, ROSCOMMON AND numbers of visitors each year, although the business spending of suppliers to the core industry is deeply engrained across the region Breeding and Racing industry and secondary MAYO, EACH OF WHICH with Breeders also being well represented. The consumer expenditure, as those people CONTAINS ONE RACECOURSE industry is responsible for c.400 full-time roles, working in the core industry spend their wages with many more individuals involved when on local goods, services and amenities. This – GALWAY, ROSCOMMON AND part-time positions are also included. results in a total economic impact of €103m. BALLINROBE. A total direct expenditure of €50m is The core racing industry is estimated to estimated to be generated in the region employ around 400 people (FTE) in the West each year, the largest components being the region. racecourses via direct on-course expenditure of €10m and related off-course racegoer expenditure of €24m. HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST 7 WEST Indirect Direct RACECOURSES Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon 5 CODE 5 Flat and Jumps 53 €103m 50 24 €50m 10 ATTENDANCES 2018 191,962 6 FIXTURES 2018 32 Breeders Betting Owners Off-course AVERAGE ATTENDANCE 2018 Racecourse 5,999 MAJOR FESTIVALS RACECOURSES Galway Galway Races All three of the region’s racecourses host Galway is best known for hosting the both Flat and National Hunt racing at Galway, Galway Festival, the highest attended racing Roscommon and Ballinrobe. Together they festival in Ireland and one of the biggest in The Festival generates significant expenditure attract close to 200,000 attendees at c.30 Europe, which takes place over seven days both on the racecourse and also in local hotels, fixtures, with an estimated expenditure from the last Monday in July. The Festival restaurants, bars and pubs as a diverse mix of of c.€10m attributable to their on-course regularly attracts over 150,000 attendees, locals, Irish nationals and international visitors activities. The main components of this are and as a result the West region as a whole is attend. It is therefore vital for local businesses, the general admissions and catering spend of responsible for 15% of total Irish attendances with more expenditure taking place outside the racegoers, alongside media rights payments from just 9% of fixtures staged. Thursday’s racecourse than on it, estimated at c.€20m for provision of pictures to the betting industry. Ladies’ Day is the best attended race day per annum. Alongside local suppliers more anywhere in Ireland. than 800 people work at the racecourse over the course of the Festival meaning the economic benefit spreads not only across the city, but also the county and wider West region. 8 HORSE RACING IRELAND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY: WEST Roscommon Roscommon Racecourse is a hugely popular and well attended venue. Primarily a summer track, racing takes place between May and September with most meetings in the evening. The racecourse stages nine fixtures a year, including a Ladies Day and Family Evening. The Listed Lenabane Stakes is the feature GALWAY RACECOURSE racegoers receive the best possible raceday event on the Flat, with the Kilbegnet Novice Galway Racecourse plays host to one of the experience. The majority of the suppliers Chase and the Connaught National Handicap greatest race meetings in the world, the to the racecourse are local businesses Chase being the feature races over Jumps. famous and iconic Galway Races Summer including Monami Construction Limited, Festival. The seven-day extravaganza, Sword Security Limited, O’Leary Insurances Roscommon has recently undergone commonly known as The Galway Races, (Galway) Limited, James P Cunningham redevelopment in advance of the 2019 continues to draw racegoers from Ireland and Electrical Limited, James Cunningham season, and with both Flat and National abroad and in 2018 attracted over 141,000 Heating Contractors (Galway) Limited, Hunt races taking place it provides important people. As such it is of huge economic benefit O’Connors of Galway Limited, Eventus opportunities for connections to run their to the local economy each year. Limited, Barna Recycling and Corrib Oil. horses locally. Businesses in Roscommon and further afield will also experience Galway Racecourse has a full-time staff Galway Racecourse also plays host to increased levels of trade on racedays due to of 10, five based in the office and five numerous non-raceday activities. Close the increased footfall associated with staging deployed in the area of track and grounds to 35,000 attended the Christmas-themed a fixture. maintenance. The racecourse employs a family event ‘Elf Town’, the Irish Country part-time raceday staff of 200 and a further Lifestyle Festival was attended by 15,000 Ballinrobe 1,000 staff, primarily local people, are people, 10,000 enjoyed the Drive in Cinema Ballinrobe Racecourse is located in a natural employed indirectly at the racecourse on experience while economic activity in Galway amphitheatre overlooked by the Partry each day of the Summer Festival. city was boosted as 20,000 availed of the Moutains, and is a classic country racecourse Park and Ride facility in December. The in a beautiful setting. With ten meetings in The racecourse has also invested in racecourse also acts as an exam centre for the summer (the majority evening fixtures) its facilities with over €30m of capital NUIG for more than 80 days annually. the racecourse plays an important part in the investment in the past 15 years to ensure local community in Mayo.