Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board

What Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board does

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the independent, internationally recognised statutory regulator for horseracing across the island of Ireland, established under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 and constituted as a company limited by guarantee. It holds sole and autonomous responsibility for making and enforcing the Rules of Racing, licensing all industry participants (trainers, jockeys, stable staff, racecourses, jockey agents, valets), and administering the Equine Anti-Doping programme. The IHRB oversees approximately 500 race fixtures per year across Flat, National Hunt, and Point to Point racing, with around 39,000 runners, and provides professional and volunteer Raceday Stewards at every fixture.

Its core technology stack comprises a regulatory platform for anti-doping management (sample collection routed to LGC Laboratories in the UK with B-sample confirmatory analysis at LCH in France), the Weatherbys e-Passport App for vaccination and identity verification, a digital Medicines Register for trainers and handlers, the Equine Injury in Irish Racing Risk Reduction Programme, and — most recently — Sleip, a markerless AI computer-vision gait analysis tool introduced in March 2026 for raceday Suitability to Race assessments. CCTV infrastructure (Mongey Communications, Cathexis Vision) supports stable-yard monitoring on racecourses.

Revenue is derived from a mix of recurring licensing fees (e.g., Handler Permit €65, Hunters Certificate €100, Receiver of Entries Licence €100), unit-priced elective testing (€306 per test), permanent import testing (€695 per horse), and transactional regulatory fines (€250–€2,500+). Distribution is direct and domestic, supplemented by the IHRB Licensee Portal (ip-ihrb.com) and international collaboration with IFHA, EHSLC, and foreign turf authorities. The Irish horseracing industry it regulates contributes €2.46 billion to the Irish economy and supports over 30,000 jobs.

Name

Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board

Legal name

Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Company Limited by Guarantee

Website

https://ihrb.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is the independent statutory regulator for horseracing across the island of Ireland, established under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 to license participants, enforce Rules of Racing, and administer anti-doping and welfare oversight for approximately 500 fixtures and 39,000 runners annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kildare

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing Fees: The IHRB licenses all participants in Irish racing including Trainers, Jockeys, Stable Staff, Racecourses, Jockey Agents and Jockey Valets. Fees are set for various license categories including Handler Permit Registration (€65), Hunters Certificate Registration (€100), Point to Point Fixture Application (€65), and Receiver of Entries Licence (€100).
2. Elective Testing Services: Fee-based analytical service for Trainers/Handlers to test if medication has cleared from horses' systems prior to racing. Cost is €306 including VAT per test, plus any transport/courier costs.
3. Permanent Import Testing: Charge of €695 per horse for Thoroughbreds imported from non-exempt jurisdictions to cover testing costs.
4. Regulatory Fines and Penalties: Revenue from fines imposed on licensees found in breach of Rules of Racing, including breaches related to prohibited substances and administrative failures. Fines range from €250 to €2,500 or more depending on severity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The IHRB is the independent statutory regulatory body for Irish horseracing, licensed under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016. It makes and enforces the Rules of Racing, licenses all participants (Trainers, Jockeys, Stable Staff, Racecourses, Jockey Agents, Jockey Valets), operates an Equine Anti-Doping Programme and out-of-competition testing, conducts veterinary inspections on racedays including the AI-enabled Sleip gait analysis tool, regulates Point to Point racing via INHSC rules, and runs a disciplinary Referrals and Appeals system. It oversees approximately 500 race fixtures per year across Flat, National Hunt and Point to Point racing with around 39,000 runners.

Product overview

The IHRB offers a comprehensive regulatory ecosystem for Irish horseracing built around its core Equine Anti-Doping Programme and Veterinary Services. The integrated portfolio includes licensing of all racing participants (Trainers, Jockeys, Stable Staff, Racecourses), the new AI-powered Sleip gait analysis tool for raceday veterinary assessments, and supplementary services including the Medicines Register, Elective Testing, and Permanent Import Testing. Supporting products include Point to Point Regulation, Raceday Steward Services, Thoroughbred Rankings, and the Referrals and Appeals disciplinary system. The IHRB oversees approximately 500 race fixtures annually across Flat, National Hunt, and Point to Point racing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Licensing Services Licensing of all participants in Irish racing including Trainers, Jockeys, Stable Staff, Racecourses, Jockey Agents, and Jockey Valets under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016.
• Equine Anti-Doping Programme Comprehensive anti-doping and medication control programme including raceday sampling, out-of-competition testing, testing at sale and stud, investigations, and disciplinary processes. IHRB's anti-doping programme was independently recognised as meeting international best practice standards.
• Veterinary Services Regulatory clinical examination of horses, equine anti-doping procedures, pre-race veterinary inspections, and provision of veterinary advice to Raceday Stewards, including post-licensing stable inspection programme and Out of Competition Testing.
• Sleip AI-enabled markerless video-based gait analysis tool used during raceday veterinary checks within the Suitability to Race process. It objectively measures movement asymmetry during a standard trot-up from a short smartphone video to support the Veterinary Officer's clinical assessment.
• Elective Testing Voluntary analytical service offered to Trainers and Handlers to determine if medication has cleared from a horse's system prior to racing, helping prevent inadvertent adverse analytical findings from essential veterinary treatment.
• Permanent Import Testing Structured testing framework for Thoroughbreds imported into Ireland from non-exempt jurisdictions, involving collection of blood and hair samples prior to participation in racing or sales.
• Equine Injury in Irish Racing Risk Reduction Programme (EIIRRR) Research and risk reduction programme to determine, analyse, and mitigate risk factors for racing-related equine injuries in Ireland, including evidence-based pre-race veterinary inspections for horses in identified risk categories.
• Point to Point Regulation Governance and regulation of Point to Point steeplechase racing in Ireland, including Hunters Certificate registration, fixture management, and penalty guidelines, covering approximately 100 fixtures sanctioned annually between October and May.
• Raceday Steward Services Professional officials and volunteer Raceday Stewards provided for all race meetings in Ireland to ensure Rules of Racing are properly observed and integrity of the sport is maintained across approximately 500 race fixtures per year.
• Referrals and Appeals Disciplinary hearing system for breaches of Rules of Racing, including prohibited substance cases, identity queries, and rider appeals. Decisions are made by Referrals Committee and Appeals Body panels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 race fixtures overseen per year with professional officials and volunteer Raceday Stewards
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Memorandum of Understanding under which the Minister appoints IHRB officials as authorized officers under the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulations Act 2023 and Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Enables access to any Thoroughbred in Republic of Ireland at any time for medication inspections.
• WeatherbyscoreTechnology or IntegrationWeatherbys provides the e-Passport App system used by IHRB for recording and verifying horse vaccination details and microchip identification ahead of race-day. The system enables pre-clearance checks and vaccine compliance verification.
• LGC LaboratoriescoreTechnology or IntegrationLGC Laboratories in Fordham, UK serves as IHRB's contracted laboratory for equine anti-doping sample analysis. The laboratory conducts testing on blood, urine, and hair samples for prohibited substances and confirms B sample results.
• Irish National Hunt Steeplechase CLG (INHSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINHSC is responsible for governance and administration of Point to Point races in Ireland, sanctioning approximately 100 fixtures annually between October and May. IHRB regulates Point to Point racing under INHSC Rules.
• Irish Masters of Foxhounds AssociationminorOthersAffiliated organization whose Hunt Committees organize Point to Point races under IHRB/INHSC Rules.
• Irish Masters of Harriers AssociationminorOthersAffiliated organization whose Hunt Committees organize Point to Point races under IHRB/INHSC Rules.
• StaghoundsminorOthersStaghound organizations affiliated to organize Point to Point races under IHRB/INHSC Rules.
• Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHRI and IHRB work together on industry initiatives. IHRB operates under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016. The EquuIP Industry Assistance Programme (1800 303 588 freephone) provides support services.
• European Horseracing Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational body that harmonizes detection times and vaccine composition recommendations across racing jurisdictions. IHRB is a full signatory and implements EHSLC standards for anti-doping.
• Association of Irish Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (AIRVS)minorOthersProfessional association providing training and further education for Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons who work alongside IHRB Veterinary Officers on raceday.
• International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal governing body for horse racing. IHRB is a full signatory to Article 6 of the IFHA Agreement on Racing, Breeding and Wagering, committing to internationally agreed anti-doping and medication control standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hong Kong Jockey Club: Integrated racing operator and regulator in Hong Kong, conducting licensing, anti-doping, stewards, and racing-rule enforcement. Comparable to IHRB on integrity functions, with broader commercial scope.
• Japan Racing Association: A broader incumbent that both regulates and operates Japanese racing, including stewards, anti-doping, and licensing. Comparable to IHRB on the regulatory dimension but with operator-plus-regulator scope.
• Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA): The US national Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, established by federal statute to oversee anti-doping, safety, and integrity across American racing. Comparable to IHRB in mandate and international alignment with IFHA standards.

Others

• Racing Authority of Ireland (parent oversight): Listed only to note that Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is the named parent oversight body for the industry under the 2016 Act, alongside which IHRB operates; not a true peer.
• Weatherbys: Technology and registration partner providing the e-Passport App that IHRB uses for horse identification and vaccination verification. An enabling technology partner rather than a direct competitor; relevant as a comparable provider of racing-integrity technology infrastructure.
• British Horseracing Authority - Anti-Doping Lab Services: Listed for completeness only; BHA's analytical functions operate through partner labs comparable to IHRB's LGC contract.

Direct peers

• France Galop: The French galop racing authority that sets Rules of Racing, licenses participants, runs anti-doping and stewards French flat and obstacle racing. Functions as a near-direct international counterpart to IHRB in regulatory scope.
• Racing Australia: The national industry body for thoroughbred racing in Australia, responsible for rules, integrity, and registration across state Principal Racing Authorities. Shares IHRB's federation-style governance and IFHA membership.
• British Horseracing Authority: The statutory regulator for horseracing in Great Britain, responsible for rule-making, licensing, anti-doping, and raceday integrity. Directly comparable to IHRB in mandate, structure, and IFHA-aligned international posture.
• The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHRA): Statutory regulator of South African horseracing, covering licensing, anti-doping, stewards and rule enforcement. Directly comparable in mandate and scale to IHRB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ihrb

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board