Irish racing's where the big bucks are

Owning a racehorse seems to be a vocation if this week's march by racing professionals on the Curragh is anything to go by. Apparently there is no pleasure at all in owning a nag because everyone is so worried about the lads and lasses who look after them. Pluckily, however, owners continue to invest. Although obviously never for their own gain. Which makes the figures released by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities during the week all the more amazing. Can you believe it, Ireland has the highest average prizemoney for flat racing in Europe. And we're sixth in the world!

A figure of £11,354 (and that's Sterling Baby) was the average prizemoney of a flat race in Ireland in 1999. That's more than Australia, France or even the United States.

In fact in the whole world only the exotic locales of Hong Kong, UAE, Korea, Japan and Macau rank higher. It can only bring tears of pride to every muck covered stable lad on the Curragh.