We all celebrate Ireland’s success on the international stage and nothing quite delivers like the Irish thoroughbred. 

Whether it be in Britain, France, Australia or the United States, Irish-bred horses and those trained in Ireland routinely win the great races around the world, reflecting so positively on a vibrant industry and its dedicated workforce.

Irish racing and breeding relies on these very special people working in every county across the land, powering an industry that is shown to generate a terrific return to the mostly rural economy. 

New research carried out by Deloitte on behalf of HRI into the Social and Economic Impact of Irish Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing 2023 shows that Irish racing and breeding supports in excess of 30,000 jobs and boasts a total annual expenditure to be €2.46 billion, divided almost equally between direct and secondary expenditure, figures that will grow as the industry expands further.