The horse racing and breeding industry in Ireland saw year-on-year increases in attendances, commercial sponsorship, and on-course betting in 2024. Total sponsorship reached €9.7 million, with commercial sponsorship climbing 7.9% from the previous year. Prize money also increased by 2.6% to €69.9 million.

Despite challenges such as bad weather and rescheduled fixtures, attendance figures for 2024 were up 0.5% from the previous year. Total on-course betting rose to €84.1 million, with bookmaker betting increasing by 5.6%. The total number of active owners and syndicates also saw slight increases.

The Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown is upcoming, and Horse Racing Ireland and Leopardstown Racecourse are among the organizations involved in the industry. The rise in commercial sponsorship reflects a trend seen across the sports industry, and the Irish racing and breeding industry continues to face challenges while remaining strong overall.