The Royal Dublin Society last night refused to divulge attendance figures for this or last year's horse show and rejected suggestions that attendance at the show had been down 25 per cent last year as "incomplete information".
However, the chief executive of the RDS, Michael Duffy, said he had not sanctioned a press release issued before this year's show which said that more than 100,000 would attend this year.
He said around 80,000 had attended the event last year.
However, informed sources were insisting last night that paying patrons to the show rarely exceed 50,000.
This figure excludes the large number of exhibitors and their helpers and members of the RDS itself.
"It is not about numbers. Attendance is not the raison d'etre. It is about our foundation activities, about promoting the horse industry here and providing a showcase for breeders and providing the best showcase as a benchmark for those in the industry," he said.
He said that while the numbers attending the show were not being given for competitive reasons, the various sponsors who support the show would have access to them.
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism promotion board, is this year's main sponsor as it is concentrating on promoting equestrian holidays here.
The sector was worth over €30 million last year and attracted 30,000 visitors.
He said the show, which had cost €2.5 million to stage, might not break even and the society still had a deficit of €350,000 for last year but he hoped this year's show would help reduce that debt.
Mr Duffy said there had been a reduction in the spend on entertaining guests at this year's show and he was looking at making the Horse Show, the largest event staged annually at the Ballsbridge grounds, as cost effective as possible.
It is understood that over the years, sums of up to €30,000 have been spent by the society on hosting guests over Horse Show weeks.
Mr Duffy said he had received complaints from horse breeders and the public about the cost of entering horses or attending the show but he contended that both were getting good value for money.
Patrons were getting the best of national and international equestrian events with top quality showing and judging competitions.
"We have 310 trade stands here in the RDS and at any time of the year that would be considered a major trade exhibition.
"Not only that, but we have a waiting list of people who want to get in here during the horse show," he said.
Mr Duffy repeated his assurance that the €100 million redevelopment of part of the RDS site, which will begin immediately after this year's show, would not prevent the society holding the horse show at the grounds next year.
"It will mean a different configuration but there is no question of the show not being held here in the future.
"We are not selling any more land," Mr Duffy insisted.
He said the revenue stream from the development, which would involve building office buildings worth €75 million and €25 million in other developments, would help protect the future of the society which is over 200 years old.
He said the society now had 5,200 members and last year had organised 100 different foundation activities.
Mr Duffy said the activities ranged from a very strong arts programme to science, technology and business events.