LAUNCH OF NEW £625,000 EBF BREEDERS’ FILLIES SERIES
Tue 12 Apr 2016
Tuesday April 12th 2016 – The European Breeders’ Fund is proud to announce the launch of a new EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series for 2016 encompassing 20 races with total prizemoney of £625,000 and culminating in a four-race finale at Newmarket on Sun Chariot Stakes day, Saturday October 1st.
The aim of the Series is to give valuable opportunities to those fillies that fall below black type level, encouraging their owners and owner-breeders to keep them in training rather than sell them for export or retire them.
The Series races are all handicaps for three-year-olds and above, and each has a minimum value of £20,000. They will be contested over six, eight, ten and twelve furlongs at a dozen of Britain’s best racecourses, starting at Ascot on May 7th.
The Series is a collaboration between the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) and the British European Breeders’ Fund (BEBF).
The BEBF, which itself is funded by British Stallion Farms and has paid out more the £30 million in prizemoney over the past three decades, is contributing over £300,000 of the prizemoney. The Levy Board’s Race Incentive Fund has provided an additional sum in excess of £40,000.
The TBA, meanwhile, has put up a bonus worth up to £25,000, whereby any qualifying filly that wins one of the four £50,000 final day handicaps at Newmarket in October will be eligible for a stallion nomination voucher.
Philip Freedman, Chairman of the BEBF, said:
“The BEBF is delighted to be sponsoring a Series which will be of great benefit to breeders.”
“It will provide opportunities for fillies just below listed class and give their owners an incentive to keep them in training in Britain, which in the future will strengthen the country’s broodmare band and benefit the stallions standing at stud here and hence, of course, contribute the funds on which the BEBF depends.”
Julian Richmond-Watson, Chairman of the TBA, said:
“This is a well thought-out series which encourages owners and trainers to keep running their fillies throughout the year and gives them an end-of-season target.”
“On behalf of the TBA, I would like to thank the EBF for their support of fillies who fall just below Pattern Race class.”
Ruth Quinn, Director of Racing Development at the BHA, said:
“This Series is designed to create and enhance opportunities for those fillies often referred to as ‘twilight’ horses. It is a valuable and worthwhile initiative, and one which complements the BHA’s ongoing review into the fillies’ race programme.”
“While we have made great improvements to the fillies’ programme in recent years, the generous prize money provided by the EBF and TBA serves to further strengthen the fare for fillies.”
“It is excellent news, too, that several racecourses, when approached by us, have upgraded races in order to be part of this series.”
Ralph Beckett, trainer of four different European Classic-winning fillies, said:
“This is a terrific new Series, encouraging owners to keep fillies in training who may or may not be capable of attaining black type. It will give those horses valuable opportunities – which were previously scarce – against their own sex and in the core part of the season.”
For further information please contact:
Kerry Murphy, CEO of the European Breeders’ Fund
Phone: 01638 667960 or 07788 497644
E-mail: kerry@ebfhorseracing.co.uk