Horse Racing Ireland Launches New Trainer Marketing Support Scheme

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), through its recently formed Ownership Department, is introducing a Trainer Marketing Support Scheme to assist fully licenced trainers in recruiting new owners in 2017.

A grant of up to €1,000 per trainer, which will be paid on a pre-approval and reimbursement basis, is being made available for specified promotional purposes such as covering the cost of an open day, creating a website or other social media initiatives, producing promotional material such as videos, flyers or adverts, and the upskilling of trainers and/or their staff in key marketing areas. Full details of the scheme and the qualifying activities will be posted to all fully licensed trainers this week.

This initiative is a continuation of HRI’s continued drive to assist Irish trainers. A number of policies introduced by HRI in recent budgets have produced overall annual savings for trainers of €500,000.

Jason Morris, Director of Racing, said, “2016 saw a welcome increase in the number of new owner registrations, active owners and horses in training in Ireland, and it is hoped that the new Trainers Marketing Support Scheme will assist in maintaining this positive trend in 2017. It remains a challenging environment with many trainers around the country struggling to attract owners, and against this background HRI is keen to help both by providing financial backing and by assisting trainers to promote themselves and the thrill of racehorse ownership to a wider audience. Trainers are encouraged to contact HRI’s Ownership Department for additional advice and information.”

The Ownership Department of HRI is available to answer any queries on this new Scheme either by speaking to Aidan McGarry, Owner Relations Manager, or Caroline Townend, Owner Executive,  on 045 455455 or by email on marketingsupport@hri.ie