The European Breeders’ Fund have renewed their financial contribution to British horseracing in 2021, pledging £1.8million of prize money enhancements between Flat and National Hunt racing.
“With financial enhancements focused between Class 4 and Listed level, this renewed pledge is very welcome at a critical time for British racing.” Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer, BHA
For over three decades, the British European Breeders’ Fund (British EBF) have provided prize money enhancements to domestic Flat and National Hunt races.
Made up predominantly of contributions from the income of stallions standing in each EBF country; the continued strength of the fund in Great Britain is reflective of the current strength and breadth of the stallion market.
595 Flat races were run in 2020 under EBF conditions, receiving £1,430,250 of funding.
British EBF financial contributions made up 22.5% of the £6,358,360 total prize money of these races, making them the second largest sponsor in the sport (by both number of races and total prize money of races supported).
An additional £10,000 found its way to owners through the increased use of EBF sponsored number cloths in feature races.
“The European Breeders’ Fund continues to be a valuable contributor to British racing. This was highlighted during 2020 when races with EBF conditions received over £1.4m of funding as a direct result of their support.
“With financial enhancements focused between Class 4 and Listed level, this renewed pledge is very welcome at a critical time for British racing.” Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer, BHA
The Trustees re-strategised their traditional allocations in response to the cessation of racing, releasing as much EBF money as possible when racing resumed.
Measures included: ensuring every race carrying EBF conditions carried a financial contribution; providing equal prize money contributions to each division of a race where applicable and funding a higher proportion of 2YO races.
The most significant change was asking racecourses to reflect 100% of EBF money above the BHA Minimum Prize Funds. This meant nearly 600 Flat and 80 National Hunt races were run with prize funds which were significantly higher than would otherwise have been achievable.
“2020 was a tough year for everyone but we were delighted to be able to get more than £1.5million in to prize money, even with a truncated race programme.” Explains British EBF Chairman Simon Sweeting.
“The relative strength of the stallion market means that we have been able to maintain our commitment to racing’s prize money in 2021, when we know the effects of the last year will be felt keenly. We hope by the careful budgeting and strategy of the British EBF team, that we will be able to provide a certain amount of continuity and continue to elevate prize money wherever we can.”
British EBF Race Planning Committee Member Sam Bullard added:
“We are constantly assessing our portfolio of races and how we support them; we work closely with the BHA and racecourses to identify new funding opportunities and are happy to support a much needed new conditions race for 3YOS to be debuted at Goodwood’s May fixture. We are also keen to back projects that provide specific developmental opportunities. A great example of this are the hugely successful British EBF Future Stayers’ races. Designed to give juvenile maiden and novice opportunities for horses with middle and staying distance pedigrees, they have produced a runners to subsequent Black Type winners ratio of 9%.”
Since their inception in 2005, 66 Future Stayers’ races have been run with £340,000 funding from the British EBF, attracting 567 individual runners. These innovative races have produced 51 Black Type horses and 5 individual Gr.1 winners on the Flat: CRACKSMAN, LINE OF DUTY and ROYAL MARINE, who all won their respective EBF Future Stayers’ races, and STRADIVARIUS and STAR CATCHER who were placed in theirs.
New Trustee:
With a new racing season ahead, the British EBF were delighted to welcome Jono Mills to the trusteeship for 2021 to replace Sam Bullard, who steps down as Darley representative but will remain on both the Flat and National Hunt Race Planning Committees.
“Races championed by the European Breeders’ Fund have been stepping-stones for the careers of recent Godolphin stars such as Gr.1 winners ROYAL MARINE and GHAIYYATH as well as Darley stallions such as CRACKSMAN. I’m looking forward to learning more about this important industry organisation and representing Darley Stallions as one of the largest contributors to the EBF fund.” Jono Mills Director, Godolphin & Rabbah.
About the British EBF:
Under the guidance and jurisdiction of the EBF Co-Ordinating Committee, the British EBF aims to:
- provide funds to support developmental races of value to the Thoroughbred race programme
- implement new races that may be of benefit to the breed
- promote and support organisations whose purposes include assisting and improving the breeding of thoroughbred horses
- provide financial support for equine research beneficial to the thoroughbred horse
