More than €42m paid as horse racing prizes by taxpayer last year as TD hits out at costs

MORE than €42million of tax-payers’ money was paid out in prize money at horse races last year, it was revealed yesterday.

And Horse Racing Ireland has revealed a similar amount will be paid across 390 fixtures this year.

The owners, some of whom are multi-millionaires, who win the prize money don’t pay tax on the winnings they get from the State, but trainers and jockeys do.