As and from 1 January 2018 horse racing in Ireland will be regulated by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), a company limited by guarantee. The new company has been set up by the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC). The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board will be responsible for the regulation of flat racing, national hunt racing and point-to-point steeplechases. It will also be the internationally recognised Irish horseracing authority in respect of its functions.
Previously regulation of the sport had been carried out by the Turf Club and the INHSC, both private clubs. Recent changes in legislation afforded the clubs the opportunity to make the change which is now happening. The members of both clubs took the decision to create the new company which they believe is a more appropriate structure for regulation in the current environment.
Both the Turf Club and the INHSC will continue to exist as private clubs. Each will nominate three directors to the board of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and their members will still have the option of continuing to act as stewards at all race meetings. All staff will transfer to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and will be employed by that company as and from 1st January, 2018.
Speaking of the decision to set up the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Peter Allen, the incoming chairman (and current senior steward of the INHSC), said that the Turf Club and INHSC were of the strong belief that the creation of a limited company for the regulation of Irish racing was a more appropriate structure for the current environment. “Racing, both as a sport and an industry faces many challenges today. Irish racing has always had an excellent reputation and it is vital that continues to be the case. The new company structure will ensure we continue to invest in the integrity services that underpin that reputation”.
Meta Osborne, senior steward of the Turf Club said that “The Turf Club has served Irish racing well for more than 200 years. Ireland is recognised worldwide in racing circles as having the highest standards for integrity. I am confident that the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board will raise these standards to an even higher level.”
The key functions of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board are:
To be solely and independently responsible for making and enforcing the rules of racing
To provide adequate integrity services for horseracing
To ensure the provision of on course integrity services by employing monitoring and controlling of the activities of horseracing officials
To licence all participants in horseracing in Ireland
To make all decisions relating to doping control, forensic and handicapping in respect of horseracing
To be responsible for the representation of Irish horseracing internationally in respect of its functions
To enforce the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Regulations for point-to-point steeplechases
The website for the IHRB www.ihrb.ie will go live on 1st January 2018.
Editors’ Note
1. The Directors of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board with effect from 1st January 2018 will be:
Peter M. Allen (Chairman)
H.R.D. McCalmont (Vice Chairman)
Martin P. O’Donnell
Mrs Caroline Corballis
Dr Colm O’Flaherty
J.J. Power
2. Ms Meta Osborne completes her term of office as Senior Steward of the Turf Club on 31st December 2017 and will be replaced by H.R.D. McCalmont.
The Stewards of the Turf Club with effect from 1st January 2018 will be:
H.R.D. McCalmont (Senior Steward)
Mrs Caroline Corballis
J.J. Power
3. The Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee with effect from 1st January 2018 will be:
Peter M. Allen (Senior Steward)
Martin P. O’Donnell (Deputy Senior Steward)
Dr Colm O’Flaherty