IRE Incentive scheme expands to over 200 races in Ireland and Britain

Trainer Richard Fahey who won three IRE Incentive vouchers in 2021

We are absolutely delighted that the IRE Incentive is back this year. We won seven races last year so that’s €70,000. For an owner wondering whether to go back to the sales, ten grand in their pocket makes up their mind. Long may it continue, I think it’s a huge plus.

Johnny Murtagh

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) today announces the expansion of the IRE Incentive scheme. The initiative designed to stimulate and fortify Irish thoroughbred breeding, racing and sales will expand to include over 200 races in Ireland and Britain in 2022.

The IRE Incentive scheme awards a bonus of €10,000 to owners of Irish-bred winners of selected races across the Irish and British Flat and National Hunt programmes, to be spent on Irish-breds at Irish sales. In its first year the IRE Incentive scheme awarded over €1,000,000 to over 90 individual owners. This contributed to more than €4,000,000 in sales of Irish-breds.

The IRE Incentive scheme runs throughout the year. Qualifying races in Ireland are two-year-old fillies’ maidens; two-year-old auction maidens and median auction races; three-year-old median auction maidens; and National Hunt auction races. Scheme races in Britain include maidens for all sexes; novice races; and fillies Listed races. See race listing and race calendar for detailed information.

The owners of each eligible winner – those carrying the (IRE) suffix and Foal Levy compliant – will have until the end of the following year to spend their voucher.

Charles O’Neill, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Chief Executive, said:
“After a successful first year in 2021, we are pleased to see the IRE Incentive scheme expand in 2022 to include over 200 races in Ireland and Britain.

“The multiplier effect of the scheme was clearly demonstrated in 2021, with just over €1,000,000 in vouchers contributing to over €4,000,000 in sales of Irish-breds.

“Irish-breds consistently prove their quality among racing’s elite. The expanded IRE Incentive scheme will continue to reward those who invest in quality Irish stock.”

Johnny Murtagh, Trainer, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that the IRE Incentive is back this year. We won seven races last year so that’s €70,000. For an owner wondering whether to go back to the sales, ten grand in their pocket makes up their mind. Long may it continue, I think it’s a huge plus.

“We breed the best horses in the world here in Ireland. They are looked after really well from a young age, the land we have, everything that goes into developing them is top class, and this is reflected in success on the racetrack.”

Richard Fahey, Trainer, said:
“We love buying in Ireland. We always receive a fantastic welcome. The horses, the people, the atmosphere, it’s a great place to buy a horse. We will be out in force at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale in May in the hopes of winning more vouchers with our purchases.”

For more information, race listing, and terms and conditions of the IRE Incentive go to: https://www.itm.ie/IRE_Incentive/