The Turf Club is prepared to pay reward money “up to five figures” for information supplied on a hotline established to combat activity which affects racing’s integrity.

Freephone numbers – 1800-855846 in the Republic and 0800-0015114 in the North of Ireland – have been set up as the regulatory body stressed its zero tolerance policy in relation to doping, race-fixing, irregular betting and other issues.

Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said: "Events in the past year have highlighted the importance of providing a facility for anyone who has information they wish to report in a confidential manner."

Prosecutions

He said there would be rewards for information which led to successful prosecutions for serious offences.

“It will depend on the quality of information obviously but a reward could stretch up to five figures for something serious that results in a conviction,” Egan said.

The Turf Club was criticised last year after the anabolic steroid controversy which resulted in the disqualification of trainer Philip Fenton from holding a licence for three years.