Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2015
137. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of thoroughbred foals born each year since 2011; the number that enter the racing industry each year; the number of thoroughbreds that leave the industry each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28075/15]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, is responsible for the development and administration of horseracing. The following table which was provided by HRI outlines the number of thoroughbred foals born in each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The number of horses in training, which is an estimate of the number of horses in the racing industry, is also shown in the table.
HRI advises that the number of thoroughbreds leaving the industry each year is a difficult figure to quantify as a number of factors need to be taken into consideration. Some horses may be exported for racing or breeding purposes. Some horses may retire from racing for breeding purposes and remain in Ireland whilst others may be removed from training or breeding altogether due to age, death or injury.
|
Year |
Thoroughbred foals born |
Horses in training |
|
2011 |
7,550 |
9,832 |
|
2012 |
7,546 |
9,238 |
|
2013 |
7,757 |
9,199 |
|
2014 |
7,999 |
8,613 |
