Talks on levy are suspended

Brian O'Connor

Over three hours of talks between the bookmakers and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have failed to resolve the levy turnover issue, but the two sides have agreed to meet again next week.

The discussions over whether on-course bookmakers should pay a one per cent levy to help the development of racecourses were described as "very cordial".

The chairman of the Irish National Bookmakers' Association, Francis Hyland, said: "Relations between us and the executive of HRI have always been very good. There is no animosity, and although the meeting was adjourned I would say things are going reasonably well. Obviously there are differences, but we are going to convene again, hopefully early next week."

HRI has already made clear its desire for the levy increase not to be passed on to the punter, but its chief executive, Brian Kavanagh, also confirmed the two sides will meet again.

"We will meet next week, certainly before the next HRI board meeting on Monday week," he said.

The original deadline for the introduction of the turnover levy, drawn up as part of HRI's current five-year plan, was New Year's Day, but that plan had to be abandoned.

The bookmakers now say they cannot afford to absorb the increase from the current 0.3 per cent levy as well and have pointed to betting exchanges as gaining from the proposed new arrangement.

Meanwhile, the Turf Club has confirmed that all 65 riders tested for drugs in Ireland last year were negative. The tests, which started at the Punchestown festival in late May, were taken on 13 separate race days and took place in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council.

Ireland is the only racing jurisdiction which has adopted the full International Olympic Committee (IOC) list of banned substances. Analysis is conducted only at IOC approved laboratories.