industry and racing department

At Horse Racing Ireland

Jamie Codd and Farren Glory team up to win at Navan racecourse

The Racing Services Department, led by Pat Brennan, comprises the following: 

HRI's Betting Division

HRI's Levy Department

Starting Stalls 

Photo Finish 

Maintenance Workshop

betting division

Bookmakers at Leopardstown racecourse

Managed by Pat Brennan, the Betting Division licences and regulates all on-course bookmakers.

An Authorised Officer attends every race meeting in the Republic of Ireland, with powers similar to a customs and excise officer. We enforce all rules and regulations governing bookmakers and their employees on racecourses.

The responsibilities of the Betting Division include:

  • Issuing Course Betting Permits
  • Collection of Turnover Charges and Pitch Fees
  • Allocation of bookmakers pitches on racecourses
  • Resolving betting disputes
  • Registering and maintaining records of sales of bookmakers’ racecourse seniorities
Sub-Committees
Bookmaker Information
Point To Point

Starting stalls

Horses bouncing out of the stalls at Navan

Horse Racing Ireland provides starting stalls and a team of stall handlers for each flat meeting in Ireland where starting stalls are in use. These starting stalls are maintained by our Front-Of-Stalls team which is based in a custom-built workshop at Punchestown racecourse. 

Photo finish

Up close image of photo finish

 The Photo Finish Team from Horse Racing Ireland attends every race meeting held in Ireland (jump and flat) providing accurate prints and race finishing orders to the IHRB Judge. These pictures are vital for the integrity of each race result and this division has benefited greatly from significant investment in hardware and software over the years.