Irish EBF race sponsorship reaches an all-time high

The Irish European Breeders’ Fund will offer its highest ever sponsorship with an increased allocation of Irish prize-money to €2.6 million.

This will be its largest annual contribution to Irish racing and the spend encompasses more than 320 Flat races and 160 National Hunt races that carry EBF conditions throughout the year.

Among races included are the Median Sires Series, the €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, the €695,000 Irish EBF Auction Series, the €120,000 Grade 1 Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series and the Irish EBF Auction Bumpers.

The IRE Incentive Scheme, funded by Horse Racing Ireland, which awards a €10,000 sales voucher to owners of Irish-bred winners, will be an added feature on a large number of Irish EBF-supported races under both codes.

John O’Connor, the Irish EBF chairman, said: "I would like to thank all the Irish stallion farms, large and small, who fund the Irish EBF and put us in a position to increase the annual sponsorship of Irish racing and allow us to continue to provide many valuable options to owners and trainers of horses of both codes.

"The Irish EBF board would also like to sincerely thank Foran Equine for their wonderful support over the last four years with the Auction Series. It has quickly grown and established itself as a prominent feature on the Irish Flat racing programme and we are delighted to be in a position to maintain prize-money levels this year with the ongoing support of Horse Racing Ireland."

Ger Lyons, who won last year's auction final with Ecliptical, originally a €18,000 Tattersalls Ireland yearling purchase, said: "This series offers our owners a real reason to stay on board season after season. It was a huge thrill for Vincent Gaul, who is a long-standing owner and always has several horses in training at Glenburnie.

"The lucrative pot on offer in the Irish EBF Ballyhane race combined with all the median sires races gives us plenty to aim for with our string of two-year-olds. The fact that prize-money levels will be maintained this season is great news and we really appreciate the investment and ongoing support from the Irish EBF and HRI."

It was echoed by Shark Hanlon, whose £600 buy Skyace took the main mares' event at Fairyhouse.

"It is very important to have this programme in place to give everyone an incentive to buy and race a mare," he said. "If I take in a mare to train these days, there are just as many races available for her as compared to geldings; years ago this was not the case, so well done to everyone involved in putting together the races, the prize-money and bonuses."

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