On-course layer Brian Keenan calls for drastic change to the industry

There won’t be many violins played at the thought of on-course bookmakers going out of business as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, not that Brian Keenan is calling for such, rather the well-known layer is asking for a drastic overhaul of the industry.

Keenan has effectively taken over the reins of the family-run business from his father, also Brian, who has been an on-course layer for most of his life and has enjoyed success as an owner with horses like Sir Oj and Maid From Milan.

The 30-year-old aired his thoughts on the on-course betting industry, and what the future might hold for the himself and his colleagues when they are permitted to return to work in a no-nonsense blog, where he called on Horse Racing Ireland and the Association Of Irish Racecourses to rethink the relationship going forward.

He explained: “My pitch fees are colossal every year - it would frighten you. I think the overall pitch fees is worth about €1m to HRI every year. The whole pitch rules, and the way that the on-course bookmakers and AIR work, I think it's time to shred that completely. It would be hugely beneficial to everybody, not just the bookmakers, if we were to start from a clean slate when we do go back. The days of us paying five times the admission price whether we attend a race meeting or not, I don't know if that is viable going forward.”

He added: “The longer people are betting alternatively with the bigger firms online or in shops when they open with restrictions, the harder it will be for us to get them back betting on course. We need to try and work together now.”

Keenan admits that he is cautiously optimistic about the future of the on-course betting business and is holding out hope of some form of normality resuming in time for Irish Champions Weekend and the Listowel Harvest Festival, originally slated in September.

He said: “I would be hoping, best case scenario, that we would be able to get back in time for Irish Champions Weekend and Listowel with crowds in and around 5,000 people with some restrictions in place but whether that's realistic or not, I'm not too sure.”

Keenan added: “I would be back in the morning if I could. I know there is a safety issue but I'm young and I want to be back working. I don't know if the appetite would be there among the general population but I miss it. I want to earn money and I want to run my business.”

'We need each other to survive'

Keenan admits that the relationship between on-course layers and AIR and HRI has been fraught but has called an all parties to work together for the greater good of the industry given the funding model is expected to be impacted significantly when racing resumes.

He said: “I think that model of solely relying on television money is going to change now.

"If you look at the racecourses that work well with us, the likes of Ballinrobe, Kilbeggan and Roscommon, there is an open dialogue there and it has been mutually beneficial for the racecourse and the on-course bookmakers. I just hope that could be the model going forward. We need each other to survive now and that is the reality of the situation.”

He added: “As it is at the minute, I have lots of pitches at the one track to try and get that extra turnover and what we have created is a bigger bill just to keep your turnover. At some point, it doesn't become viable and I think this period will give a lot of fellas the time to reflect, and they will decide to cut out some pitches.

"It is not all doom and gloom and there is a business there. It's a different landscape to what it was say ten years ago but it's not finished by any means.”

While Keenan admits HRI have bigger fish to fry for the time being at least, he believes that the governors of Irish racing need to sit down with the bookies and AIR to work out how the industry will work when crowds are permitted at race meetings.

He explained: “We haven't been banging the drum as HRI have enough on their plate at the minute to get racing back but as soon as that first hurdle is jumped we will have to come up with a plan about how we can get back to work within the guidelines. Will we need two betting rings to create more room? I have three pitches at Leopardstown – can I work those pitches or will it be only one pitch?

"Those are the sort of questions we need answered and they will need to be answered fairly soon because, when we are allowed back, when it does happen we want to be ready to go and we don't want to be discussing this stuff with 48 hours notice because it is going to take a bit of time.”

Keenan added: “We will need a bit of help, not necessarily financial help, but we will need HRI and AIR to work with us if we are to get back up and running again.”

Read more:

D-Day as Irish racing awaits news of a possible earlier resumption date

Key politician calls for racing resumption with equine sports activity to start

Kavanagh defends radio silence and insists resumption is a matter for government

Keep up to date on the must-have news, tips, photos and more by following the Racing Post across all social channels