It's official: Ireland is the place for live racing if you want value for money

Nobody would dispute that times are hard.

The pound or euro in your pocket is worth less than it used to be, devalued and made ever more precious by biting inflation. The cost of almost everything has gone up and continues to rise, meaning that for the vast majority of people there is less money to spend in areas that might not be considered essential. 

A day at the races can be delightful and perhaps even financially rewarding. It is most definitely not essential.