Punchestown Festival is vital for racing industry and Kildare economy - HRI boss

The chief executive of Newbridge-headquartered Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has said that the scale of the five-day Punchestown Festival is vital for the sport of horse racing as well as the local Kildare economy.

Suzanne Eade, who was appointed in 2021, also added that the number of overseas racegoers that the Kildare event attracts is very impressive.

Ms Eade told the Leader: “We have enjoyed a tremendously successful National Hunt season, the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February was very special, Irish-trained horses were dominant once again at the Cheltenham Festival and the Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse was certainly one to savour on Easter Monday.

“It was heartening to see such big crowds at Punchestown a year ago and I’m sure those terrific scenes will be replicated across the festival’s five days this year.

"Every major racing festival results in a notable return for local economies around the country; the scale of the Punchestown festival and the huge number of overseas racegoers it attracts makes it one of the most important and economically significant.”

Ms Eade added: “The Punchestown festival is a truly wonderful occasion, bringing together the very best of National Hunt racing and one of the social highlights of the year.”

Horse Racing Ireland is the governing body of horseracing in Ireland and is responsible for the overall development and promotion of the thoroughbred industry.

The HRI is responsible for the development, promotion and overall administration of Irish racing.

The HRI also has a role in race programming and prize-money, grants to authorised racecourses and training and education within the industry.