British EBF new wave of ‘Super Maidens’ as part of funding re-structure

Fri 26 May 2017

Chester Racecourse will host the first of the British EBF’s races in its re-vamped programme of tiered funding for two-year-old maiden and novice races on Saturday 27th May 2017.

The British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes, a class 2 contest over 6f has a total prize fund of £20,000, including a British EBF contribution of £10,000.

The race marks a significant change in approach to how the British EBF distributes its funding. The trustees, after industry feedback, made the decision to re-target it’s funding in to improving prize money levels in higher quality races.  Other high value maiden races are run at Salisbury, York and Newmarket.

The re-directed funding also includes a second year of support for the BHA “Stayers Maiden” project to provide opportunities later in the season for two-year-olds who may be campaigned in staying races later in their careers.  Restricted to progeny of stallions that won over 10f or more with EBF eligibility; they were created in 2015 in response to a review by the BHA Flat Racing Committee following a noticeable lack of opportunities for staying types and to help meet a goal of further enhancing the stayers programme.

Irish EBF Announce New Initiatives

Fri 5 May 2017

To further support the Irish Racing Industry, Irish EBF have announced five new initiatives targeted at the grassroots of Irish Racing

The purpose of the Irish EBF is to annually re-invest the income contributed from Irish based stallion owners directly into Irish prize money. For 2017 further investment was allocated to create five new initiatives to bring the commitment to Irish Prizemoney to €2 million. Speaking about the new initiatives John O’Connor, Chairman, Irish EBF said “The aim of the Irish EBF is target funding to where it will make a difference. We annually review the spend and this year we were in a position to expand our objectives to include a series for National Hunt Handicaps, Best Turned Out Prizes for grooms, a focus on staying races in Ireland, expansion of Fillies Handicaps and a partnership with Foran Equine for an Auction Series. These initiatives will complement our regular programme of races and we are confident they will make a difference to the grassroots of the industry”

• The new €300,000 Irish EBF Summer National Hunt Handicap Series is designed to support twenty middle range handicaps (with rating caps of 109 or 116), comprising 14 hurdles and 6 chases, which will be run for an increased prize money value of €15,000 each, during the summer period. This is part of an overall initiative by Horse Racing Ireland to provide more competitive options for middle to lower tier National Hunt horses. Speaking about the new initiative, William Flood, Governor, Irish EBF said “The Irish EBF are committed to annually support National Hunt racing in Ireland and this series goes to the core of our values. We are determined to make the series a regular feature, therefore we are inviting interest from commercial sponsors who would like to partner with the Irish EBF. A partnership will solidify the series and directly benefit the grassroots of National Hunt racing in Ireland”

• Working with the Association of Irish Racecourses, a commitment was made to sponsor the Best Turned Out prize for 275 Irish EBF supported races to the tune of €100. This was made possible by sharing the costs 50/50 with the racecourses. Each racecourse have committed to match the €50 Irish EBF will give towards the Best Turned Out prize. Over a 12 month period nearly €28,000 will be awarded to the hard working grooms that play such a fundamental role in each raceday. Speaking about the new project, Bernard Caldwell, Chairman, Irish Stablestaff Association said “The Irish Stablestaff Association wish to thank and congratulate the racecourses and the Irish EBF for their new initiative. €100 as a best turned prize is a wonderful incentive for grooms to have their horses turned out to perfection. The prize goes a long way in repaying the dedication shown by grooms and we appreciate the commitment shown to our members.”

• On Saturday May 20^th, at Navan Racecourse, the Irish EBF will sponsor a new Listed race, The €75,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes over 13 furlongs. This is part of the European Pattern Committee long term Stayers Project, aimed to enhance the overall European stayers’ programme, with a view to incentivising the breeding, owning and training of quality staying horses in Europe. As a further commitment to supporting staying races, the Irish EBF have increased the contribution to three year old and three year old and upwards median auction maiden races of 9f or further. The aim is to target support for produce of stallions that are likely to produce staying progeny.

• In an effort to create more opportunities for flat-bred Fillies to help enhance their value within the competitive environment of handicaps, the Irish EBF have provided additional sponsorship for Fillies only handicaps. This year, eight additional races were added to give a total of 25 Fillies only Handicaps, with a total prize fund of under €600,000. John Osborne, Vice Chairman, Irish EBF said “This is a significant increase in support by the Irish EBF. It will open up new opportunities to owners of flat-bred Fillies. Fillies make up half of our production and then become the broodmares of the future, these handicaps provide a pathway to black type and a chance to increase their paddock value.”

• Saturday May 6^th, marks the first race in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series, at Cork Racecourse. Eight two-year-olds go to post for the €25,000 prize fund. As a group their average purchase price from four different sales companies (Keeneland, Arqana, Goffs and Tattersalls) is €30,000. The next race will be on the opening day at the Curragh on Saturday May 13^th where two-year old maidens will compete for €25,000. The long term aim is to establish the series as a target for purchasers of yearlings and 2yos at public auction. Purchasers at the upcoming Goresbridge Breeze-Up sale will have the unique opportunity to buy in May and race straightaway in the series between June and October, if they are purchased for €72,000 or less. Further details and race criteria can be found at www.auctionseries.ie.

Overall the Irish EBF will spend €2 million on sponsorship of Irish Racing in 2017. Approximately €1.5 million is allocated to 270 flat races and about €500,000 is allocated to over 140 National Hunt races. This investment goes to help ensure a healthy and vibrant future for racing in Ireland, only made possible by the generous contributions given voluntarily by Irish Stallion Farms.

END

For Further Information:
Nessa Joyce

Manager

Irish European Breeders Fund

Greenhills, Kill, Naas, Co Kildare, W91 FY62

Mob:    +353 85 7590970

Tel:      +353 45 910999

nessa@irishebf.ie

www.ebfstallions.com

British European Breeders’ Fund and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association join forces to promote UK fillies’ racing

Wed 3 May 2017

After its successful launch in 2016, the British European Breeders’ Fund (BEBF) and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) have again joined forces on the 2017 renewal of the British EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series.

The twenty-race program has a total prize fund of £625,000, made up of British EBF contributions of £305,000, match funded or better by participating racecourses.  There are 4 qualifiers and a finale for each distance category: 6f, 8f, 10f and 12f with the ultimate aim of the series being to provide viable developmental racing prospects for 3yo+ fillies which compete just under stakes level.

The culmination of the program will again be a flagship day of finals at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday 7th October.  The four finals on the day are worth £50,000 each.

Philip Mitchell, Chairman of the British EBF commented:

“This series is the result of the British EBF’s continued assessment of its support of fillies’ races in the UK.  British EBF investment has spearheaded the development of a section of the race program in to a forward-thinking series of races with very attractive prize money. The minimum value of any handicap in this series is £20,000; with the first race taking place at Ascot on 13th May and worth £45,000.  Supporting breeders through the investment in fillies’ races is of fundamental importance to the UK bloodstock industry.”

The TBA have again supported the program by providing a £25,000 bonus as Chairman, Julian Richmond Watson explained:

“The TBA are always focused on encouraging schemes that promote opportunities for fillies to race and make a good start to their breeding careers.  The British EBF have done a great job in packaging this group of races which all carry excellent prize money and provide trainers with a clear progression through the season for those fillies that fall just outside stakes class but still have talent and potential.

The TBA have pledged the addition of £25,000 worth of nomination vouchers to any qualifying filly that wins one of the finals at Newmarket on 7^th October.  The bonus amount is to be used in the filly’s first two seasons at stud; this is our way of encouraging breeders to make good quality nomination choices for their filly in the important early stages of her stud career.”

Fillies must be placed 1^st – 3^rd in any of the qualifying races and go on to win one of the finals at Newmarket on 7^th October in order to win the £25,000 bonus.  In line with the aims of both the BEBF and TBA to promote British breeding and stallions, the opportunity is only open to British bred fillies or those sired by UK stallions, and the nomination vouchers are to be used on UK based sires.

On hosting the finals day, Amy Starkey, Regional Director, Jockey Club Racecourses East Region, commented:

“We are very pleased to host both a qualifier and the Finals for this very worthwhile series at Newmarket Racecourses.”

“Not only have the British EBF supported this initiative with competitive prize money levels, they have also nurtured and developed this area of the British race program, providing both opportunity and an attractive proposition for this class of fillies, especially with the added bonus supplied by the TBA.

“Following the successful inceptions of the EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series last year, I look forward to watching the qualifiers with intent and hosting another great renewal of the Finals day in October.”

A full list of the available races will be circulated to trainers and be available on the British EBF Facebook page and website.  Full details of the terms and conditions for the TBA bonus can be found by contacting the TBA offices directly. You can down load the list of races here:

EBF_FilliesMares_210x297_AW2

British EBF leads investment again in UK Racing

Mon 1 May 2017

The British arm of the European Breeders’ Fund have announced a record equaling £1.7million investment into UK prize money for 2017.  The organisation, which is funded primarily by subscriptions from UK based stallion owners, will maintain the level of investment seen in 2016, bringing the total contribution by the EBF to UK racing to just over £31.5million since its inception in 1983.

The British EBF is charged with the task of re-investing the generously provided income from UK based stallion owners directly in to prize money; in doing so it is one of the leading sponsors of racing in the UK by both number of races and total prize value of the races they support:

Table info reproduced courtesy of Mary-Ann Sandercock (first published in RCA Update, March 2017)

BEBF funding is distributed nation-wide to nearly every racecourse in the British Isles and is guided by a strong set of under-pinning principles to help focus investment where it is needed most. Although the British EBF works with both Jockey Club Racecourses and Arena Racing, nearly half its annual funding is distributed among the independent racecourses.

The 2017 contributions are headlined by the return of the highly successful EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series, which sees a renewed investment of over £300,000. Initially launched in 2016, this programme of 20 races, covering sprint to middle distance contests, is designed to produce valuable handicap opportunities for fillies, aged three years old and up, to race competitively throughout the flat season. The series will culminate in a finals day at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Friday 7^th October with each showcase (one each for 6f, 8f, 10f and 12f) carrying an eye-catching prize fund of £50,000.  To further enhance the programme, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association have again offered a bonus worth up to £25,000 to any qualifying filly that wins one of the valuable EBF finals on 7^th October.

In line with the British EBF’S remit to support a minimum of 70% of the two-year-old races year on year, the largest proportion of the annual re-investment from stallion owners is in this area of the programme and accounts for 33% of the total BEBF prize money distribution.

Support has again been given to the All-Weather Championships initiative with an investment in qualifying races of nearly £50,000, as part of an overall support of all-weather racing in the UK of £125,000. A further £125,000 will again be allocated to support National Hunt races including the EBF Novice Hurdle Series.

The number of ‘Stayers Maidens’ has also been increased to 10 for 2017.  Restricted to progeny of stallions that won over 10f or more with EBF eligibility, they offer opportunities later in the season for two-year-olds who may be campaigned in staying races later in their careers.  They were created in 2015 in response to a review by the BHA Flat Racing Committee following a noticeable lack of opportunities for staying types and to help meet a goal of further enhancing the stayers programme.

The British EBF has also allocated £60,000 to fund (in conjunction with the TBA and Levy Board) a three-year post-doctoral fellowship at Cambridge University investigating factors leading to the susceptibility of higher worm burdens in the equine population; a vital pre-cursor to developing new systems of guarding against large scale worm infestations on thoroughbred stud farms. Previous research project funding includes: Equine Influenza, Strangles and the Equine Genome Project.

Quotes:

Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA):

“The contribution that the EBF makes to the sport through prize money and sponsorship is tremendous. Of particular value is the support for both fillies and stayers, two areas of the British thoroughbred breed that the industry must invest in, to ensure a healthy and vibrant future as an integral part of the racing programme and to maintain the great diversity that exists within the sport.”

Philip Mitchell, Chairman of the British European Breeders’ Fund:

“The British EBF continues to lead industry funded sponsorship of UK racing. Although our total investment figure is unchanged for 2017, we have re-focused our energy, through the newly re-vitalised race-planning committee, in to improving prize money levels in higher quality races.  Part of our remit is to support races that help to improve the breed. For that reason, we have re-directed some of our funds in to higher value maidens specifically at York, Chester, Newmarket and Salisbury.  We continue to put the majority of our money in to Class 4 maidens and above and are delighted to be able to run the EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series again in 2017.”

Julian Richmond Watson, Chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association:

“The TBA is pleased to support the EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series again in 2017 with a £25,000 bonus for qualifying fillies. The bonus can be redeemed against an eligible British based stallion’s covering fee and aims to encourage owners to breed from fillies with proven ability. The TBA and EBF recognise the importance of promoting race opportunities for fillies, which are integral to the future of the British thoroughbred breeding industry. The inaugural series in 2016 was a huge success, attracting good sized fields, competitive racing and the first £25,000 TBA Bonus winner. We look forward to the start of the 2017 series in May.”

Michael Prosser, Head of Racing, Jockey Club Racecourses, East Region:

“British EBF make a substantial contribution to UK racing and continue to be great supporters of Jockey Club Racecourses and our particular aims at Newmarket.  We are delighted to be hosting the finals of the EBF Breeders’ Fillies Series again this year, with their four “finals” races to be run at the Rowley Mile in October.”