British EBF to provide £750,000 of prize-money enhancements to autumn programme

The British European Breeders’ Fund is supplementing prize-money for British Flat racing by £750,000 between September and the end of 2020 – all of which will be available as enhancements above BHA minimum values.

With a return to a near normal race programme for the autumn and winter, the British EBF is returning all contributions to pre-Covid 19 levels. The largest monthly investment is for September, when more than £400,000 will boost prize-money levels.

All races carrying EBF conditions will be run for between £1,000 and £25,000 above the minimum value, while of particular note are three EBF races at the St Leger meeting at pre-Covid-19 values: the Carrie Red Fillies’ Nursery for £50,000, the EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap for £30,000, and a brand new Class 2 juvenile maiden, also for £30,000.

Jon Pullin of Arena Racing Company, which owns Doncaster, said: "Arc have a longstanding and positive relationship with the EBF, and we are delighted to once again welcome them to the St Leger festival at Doncaster.

"Their contribution, combined with that which Arc are making, will ensure that prize-money for the races which they support will be run at the same level as previous years, along with the new Class 2 maiden for two-year-olds.”

The British EBF has been working closely with racecourses to ensure 100 per cent of EBF contributions are either match-funded or reflected above the minimum value of a race. As the resumption of racing has progressed, the effect this extra prize-money has had is not insignificant, with, in many cases, EBF races being the only ones to exceed minimum value on a card.

Racehorse Owners Association president Charlie Parker said: “On behalf of the ROA and the Horsemen’s Group we welcome the announcement from the British EBF that they will be supporting the revised fixture list from September to December with a contribution to prize-money which will exceed £750,000.

"We have seen significant downward pressure on prize-money since resumption, so the work that the British EBF has done, and this announcement, is very good news for all horsemen.”

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