Racing's immediate financial future appears to have been guaranteed with yesterday's Government announcement that the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund will continue for the next four years.
The Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue also confirmed at Listowel races yesterday that the aggregate limit on the fund will be increased to 296 million for the period 2005-08.
Racing will receive 80 per cent of the money with the remainder going to the greyhound sport.
The four-year period of the current fund, which saw the State guarantee a total of 254 million to the sports since 2001, will expire at the end of this year and Horse Racing Ireland have moved to prevent any potential future problems with cash flow.
The arrangement where betting tax turnover is returned to both codes, and any possible shortfall made up by the State, means that a total of €550 million will have been given to the industries over eight years.
Out on the track Urban won his second start over flights in the three-year-old hurdle. Joe Crowley's horse emerged a distance clear of his stable companion Rivertree.
Crystal View provided apprentice jockey Chris Hayes with just his fourth career success by sluicing four and a half lengths clear of Brogue Lanterns in the Premier Nursery.
Paul Nolan is primarily known as a National Hunt trainer but Sky High Flyer provided him with a landmark success in the juvenile fillies maiden.
"She's the first two-year-old I've had and the first winner," said the double Galway Hurdle winning handler who expects improvement from the winner who only overhauled Ciara's Diamond in the last stride.
Favourite backers were in Ruby Walsh's debt after the Beginners' Chase which saw the rider galvanise Mirpour to a narrow defeat of Jack Of The Cross.
The bookmaker turnover at Listowel was dramatically down from last year's total of €721,402 to yesterday's €596,839. However, there were eight races on the corresponding day in 2003. Tote turnover was up to €157,920 from €151,638.
