Photo: Mark Flanagan (IHRA), Jean Pierre Kratzer (UET), Jacques Chartier (UET), James O’Sullivan (IHRA), Arthur Cooper (IHRA)

This weekend at the meeting of the Union of European Trotting (UET) General Assembly, the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) was admitted into their ranks at a presentation at Vincennes racetrack, Paris.
Over the course of the past two years, the IHRA had a one year observer status within the Union and has progressively introduced trotteur-français horses from France to its racetracks throughout Ireland during the past two years. To become a full member, they also underwent an audit by the UET throughout 2015, which included multiple visits by UET Executives to race meetings conducted at both Dundalk and
Portmarnock.
The IHRA is delighted to join the twenty other member states in the UET, the governing body of the European trotting. The Union’s purpose is ‘the promotion of trotting races and horse breeding in Europe and set up a close and lasting relationship between member federations’ and Ireland looks to benefit from the flourishing organisation.
At Vincennes for Ireland’s ratification into the UET on the $1 million Prix de l’Amerique weekend, chairman of the IHRA, Mark Flanagan, said: “This is fantastic for our organisation and for Ireland. We have already benefitted from the support of the UET and have cultivated strong relationships with France and their breeding industry, which has only helped trotting in Ireland. Full membership means we can now progress further in the sport’s growth, at home and abroad.”
Twenty-five enthusiast members of IHRA travelled to Vincennes for the weekends’ inauguration and to enjoy the Group One racing action.
During the past week IHRA received recognition in Ireland within ‘The Irish Horse Report’ prepared by the Joint Committee for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In part its recommendations included IHRA to receive appropriate Government funding to develop the sport and to for IHRA further develop international relationships so that Irish trotting can flourish on the world stage. Membership of the UET will only enhance IHRA’s current and future opportunities.
During the past two years IHRA has laid the foundations for the sport of trotting to grow in Ireland and this UET Membership is the most significant achievement to date.
It is the culmination of the work achieved and the UET admittance will pave the way for the sport to develop and prosper during the coming years.