The Cheltenham Festival in March is a major event for Irish racing fans, with Irish-trained horses performing well in recent years. The festival attracts thousands of attendees and generates significant economic impact, with increases seen in key metrics such as sponsorship, prize money, and on-course betting. The horse racing industry in Ireland is strong, with state investment supporting thousands of jobs and a significant return to the economy.
Irish-trained horses have been successful at the Cheltenham Festival, with notable jockeys like Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore becoming sporting superstars. The industry in Ireland has seen year-on-year increases in key areas such as attendance, sponsorship, and prize money, with total sponsorship reaching €9.7m in 2024. The industry is supported by state investment and aims to continue growing its economic reach in the coming years.
The horse racing industry in Ireland is thriving, with strong performances by Irish-trained horses both domestically and overseas. The industry has seen increases in areas such as prize money, racehorse ownership, and on-course betting, with total on-course betting reaching €84.1m in 2024. State investment in the industry supports thousands of jobs and generates a significant return to the economy, with plans to further grow the industry’s economic reach in the future.