Irish EBF announces record sponsorship of €2.6m for 2022

The Irish European Breeders' Fund (EBF) has announced it will contribute a record-equalling €2.6 million in prize-money once again this year.

For the second year running, the Irish EBF will sponsor nearly 500 races, both Flat and National Hunt, making it the largest contributor of sponsorship in Ireland and brings the Irish EBF's total financial contribution to almost €54m since it was founded in 1983.

The growth of several different race series, in both codes, over the last decade has provided an additional incentive for owners and trainers to purchase Irish EBF-qualified horses at the sales, given the enhanced prize-money on offer.

Two-year-old maidens receive substantial support from the organisation, with 95 per cent of Irish juvenile maidens run under Irish EBF conditions and they benefit from enhanced prize-money.

As well as the maiden sponsorship, the Irish EBF contributes to two sires' series races for youngsters; the Median Sires' Series and the Irish EBF Auction series, with a combined total prize fund of almost €1.4m.

“Prize-money is the lifeblood of our industry and the
governors of the Irish EBF are delighted to announce our allocation of €2.6m to the prize-money pool in Ireland for 2022," said Joe Foley, chairman of the Irish EBF.

"The owners of every stallion standing in Ireland, big or small, Flat or National Hunt, have contributed to this amount and, as chairman, I’d like to thank them for their contributions.

"We worked hard to increase our funding to record levels during the last few years to enable prize-money to remain as high as possible through pandemic times and we’re pleased to maintain this contribution this year."

This year the median series will consist of 26 races, while the auction series encompasses 24 races and two finals, with the highlight being the €120,000 Irish EBF Auction Series Final at Naas in October.

The organisation also supports the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, which is worth €300,000 and will be held at Naas on Monday, August 1.

'The fuel that powers our industry'

Commenting on the record sponsorship levels, Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud echoed Foley's thoughts, saying: “Prize-money is the fuel that powers our industry. As stallion owners, by contributing to the EBF, we are directly benefiting the end users, the owners.

"This in turn has a positive impact for trainers, sales companies, breeders and everyone involved in the industry."

Beale went on to outline the additional benefits to stallion owners of having their horses registered to the scheme.

"The opportunities afforded to EBF-registered stallions are not only through the additional €2.6 million prize-money allocation in Ireland but all EBF-eligible races in member countries. The scheme has stood the test of time and continues to deliver a remarkable impact.”

In the National Hunt realm, the Irish EBF heavily supports mares' races, with around half of its sponsorship targeted at mares' only contests.

The ever-popular Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series will conclude once more with a final, worth €75,000, at the Punchestown festival next month.

In addition to that series, the Irish EBF Bumper Series of six races worth €15,000 apiece runs throughout the National Hunt season.

“Our family farm has proudly supported the Irish EBF scheme since its foundation in the eighties and it is wonderful to see how much it has grown and how the race programme has developed over the years," said Catherine Cashman of Rathbarry and Glenview Studs.

"There are now so many opportunities available to the progeny of all our stallions in EBF races that we feel our annual contribution comes back to us full circle by keeping owners engaged in the industry through buying at the sales or breeding to race.

"Hopefully the Irish EBF will be around for another 40 years and keep helping everyone in Irish racing.”

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