Irish Horseracing Industry 1994

Number 18 of 1994

IRISH HORSERACING INDUSTRY ACT 1994

REVISED

Updated to 31 October 2023

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 (28/2023), enacted 31 October 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 2) (Assessment of Means) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 534 of 2023), made 31 October 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number 18 of 1994

IRISH HORSERACING INDUSTRY ACT 1994

REVISED

Updated to 31 October 2023

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Preliminary and General

Section
1.	Short title.
2.	Interpretation.
3.	Establishment day.
4.	Repeals.
5.	Prosecution of summary offences.
6.	Offences and penalties.
7.	Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
8.	Expenses of Minister.

PART II

The Irish Horseracing Authority

9.	Establishment of Authority.
10.	General functions of Authority.
10A.	Incidental, etc. powers of Authority. (Repealed)
11.	Conferring of additional functions on Authority.
12.	Charges by Authority.
13.	Membership of either House of Oireachtas or of European Parliament by members or staff of Authority.
14.	Disclosure by members of Authority of interests.
15.	Disclosure by directors of subsidiaries of interests.
16.	Disclosure by members of staff of certain interests.
17.	Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of information.
18.	Committees.
19.	Race-fixtures committee.
20.	Race-programme committee.
20A.	Industry services committee.
20B.	Betting committee.
21.	Chief executive.
22.	Staff of Authority.
23.	Superannuation of staff of Authority.
24.	Premises of Authority.
25.	Application of funds of Authority.
26.	Prize money.
27.	Advances by Minister to Authority.
28.	Accounts and audits of Authority.
29.	Reports to Minister by Authority.
29A.	Compliance by HRI with State Bodies Code of Practice, etc.
30.	Borrowing by Authority.
31.	Gifts.
32.	Investments, joint ventures, etc.
33.	Starting price.
34.	Authority or company of Authority may hold and operate totalisator licence.
35.	Company of Authority may hold and operate bookmakers licence.
36.	Establishment of companies by Authority.
37.	Authority may acquire, etc., shares in, and become member of, company.
38.	Authority may establish, etc., racecourses.
38A.	Thoroughbred foal levy.

PART III

The Racing Regulatory Body

39.	Racing Regulatory Body.
39A.	Accounts, etc. of Racing Regulatory Body.
40.	Charges by Racing Regulatory Body.
41.	Funds of Racing Regulatory Body.
42.	Costs of integrity services.
43.	Collection of fees and charges on behalf of Authority. (Repealed)
44.	Alteration of Rules of Racing.
45.	Appeals against sanctions of Racing Regulatory Body.
46.	Racing Regulatory Body to determine whether race-fixtures may be held.

PART IV

Bookmakers and Betting

47.	Prohibition of course-betting by bookmakers not holding permits from Authority.
48.	Course-betting permits and course-betting representative permits.
49.	Authorised officers.
50.	Requirement to produce course-betting, or course-betting representative, permit to authorised officer.
51.	Powers of entry, inspection, etc., of authorised officers and officers of customs and excise.
52.	Obstruction of authorised officers or officers of customs and excise.
53.	Regulations in relation to authorised bookmakers.
54.	Levies payable by authorised bookmakers on course bets.
54A.	Turnover charge payable by authorised bookmakers on course bets.
54B.	Flat rate charges payable by authorised bookmakers.
54C.	Suspension or revocation of course-betting permit if charges are not paid.
54D.	Turnover charge payable by licensed bookmakers on off course bets.
54E.	Annual charge payable in respect of registered premises. (Repealed)
54F.	Transfer by Authority of portion of sums collected to Board na gCon.
55.	Regulations for payment of levies on course bets.

PART V

The Bookmakers Appeal Committee

56.	Bookmakers Appeal Committee.
57.	Appeals against decisions of Authority in relation to course-betting permits and course-betting representative permits.
58.	Dissolution of Appeal Committee, etc.

PART VI

Authorised Racecourses

59.	Authorised Racecourses.
60.	Regulations in relation to executives of authorised race-courses.
61.	Broadcasting and filming rights.
62.	Exclusion of certain persons from racecourses.

PART VII

Amendment of Totalisator Act, 1929

63.	Amendment of Totalisator Act, 1929.

PART VIII

Amendment of Betting Act, 1931

64.	Amendment of Betting Act, 1931.

PART IX

Amendment of Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1988

65.	Licensing of sale of intoxicating liquor at race-fixtures.
66.	Restrictions of certain provisions of Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1988.
67.	Search of racecourse by member of Garda Síochána.
68.	Collective citation and commencement (Part IX).

PART X

Transfer of Assets and Liabilities of Racing Board to Authority

69.	Dissolution of Racing Board. (Repealed)
70.	Transfer of property and liabilities of Racing Board to Authority. (Repealed)
71.	Preservation of certain continuing contracts and adaptation references to Authority in certain documents. (Repealed)
72.	Pending legal proceedings. (Repealed)
73.	Final accounts of Racing Board. (Repealed)
74.	Transfer of totalisator licences. (Repealed)
75.	Transfer of staff. (Repealed)
76.	Exemption from stamp duties. (Repealed)
77.	Continuance of instruments and documents, etc.

SCHEDULE

The Irish Horseracing Authority

Number 18 of 1994

IRISH HORSERACING INDUSTRY ACT 1994

REVISED

Updated to 31 October 2023

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE HORSERACING INDUSTRY AND FOR THE BETTER CONTROL OF RACECOURSES AND FOR THIS AND OTHER PURPOSES TO ESTABLISH A BODY TO BE CALLED THE IRISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY, TO DEFINE ITS FUNCTIONS, TO MAKE PROVISION IN RELATION TO BOOKMAKERS ENGAGED IN COURSE BETTING AND TO IMPOSE LEVIES ON THEM IN RESPECT OF SUCH BETTING, TO ASSIGN FUNCTIONS TO THE IRISH TURF CLUB AND THE IRISH NATIONAL HUNT STEEPLECHASE COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO HORSERACING, TO DISSOLVE THE RACING BOARD AND TO TRANSFER ITS PROPERTIES, STAFF AND LIABILITIES TO THE IRISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY, TO DISSOLVE THE APPEAL COMMITTEE AND TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO BE CALLED THE BOOKMAKERS APPEAL COMMITTEE, TO REPEAL THE RACING BOARD AND RACECOURSES ACTS, 1945 AND 1975, TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE TOTALISATOR ACT, 1929, THE BETTING ACT, 1931, AND THE LICENSING ACTS, 1833 TO 1988, AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONNECTED MATTERS. [10th July, 1994]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Revised Acts

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Irish Horseracing Industry 1994