Fears Brexit could harm Irish horseracing trade

Naas, Ireland

THOROUGHBRED horse breeding is an instance where Ireland can claim to be among the world's best, but Brexit is giving the industry huge cause for concern.

Uncertainty over the future arrangements for exporting horses to Britain, its main market, has sparked frustration and anger in a sector worth more than 1.8 billion euros (S$2.88 billion) to the economy, and which supports almost 30,000 jobs.

"It is a huge employer in the countryside, so anything that damages it is something to be really worried about," said Harry McCalmont, whose Norelands Stud is a prominent middle market breeder.

Talk of Brexit dominated last week's foal and breeding stock sales at Goffs, …