Some things the sport can't change – but all-weather fare is something it can

There has been great progress in Irish racing over the last 20 years, since I was chairman of the trainers' association. Back then, we had two bodies, the Turf Club and the Racing Board running Irish racing. Whenever we had a problem and went to one of them for help they always sent us to the other one – who then sent us back again!

This was simply because neither of them had enough money to do all the things they wished to do. Irish racing was not thriving but was at a maintenance level. Things have changed a lot and great strides have been made. Having one body in HRI with central control and with the extra income through the horse and greyhound fund, means racecourse redevelopment and prize-money increases have changed the face of Irish racing.

The results on the racetrack have also been very good. One of the first things to benefit from increased prize-money was the jumps programme. Previously, jumps trainers felt they were being treated as the ‘poor relations’ and a new programme of Graded races with enhanced prize-money has been brought in since the turn of the century. This has undoubtedly attracted some of the bigger owners into the sphere.