Connections of One Cool Poet after winning the Irish EBF Northfields handicap at the Curragh last year© Photo Healy Racing
Irish racing’s largest sponsor, Irish European Breeders’ Fund, have today reinforced their commitment to Irish racing by increasing their allocation of prize-money to €2,500,000 for 2020.
Irish EBF are working closely with Horse Racing Ireland to support the restart of racing on June 8th by ensuring all funds, including those not distributed during the suspension of racing, are allocated and the remaining prize-money is assigned with a focus on grassroots races throughout the rest of the year. €2,500,000 will be the highest annual contribution to Irish racing since the foundation of the Irish European Breeders’ Fund in 1983.
John O’Connor, Chairman, Irish EBF, said; “Prize-money is the lifeblood of racing and supports owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff and for that reason the Irish EBF, which is funded by stallion farms, has decided to increase its allocation to HRI for 2020 to assist HRI in trying to replace the lost opportunities for all the participants in Irish racing during the Covid-19 suspension of racing. We will encourage all of our co-sponsors to continue to support the Irish racing industry at this crucial time when the industry is facing its greatest ever challenge.”
Jason Morris, HRI Director of Racing, said; “The Irish EBF have long been staunch supporters of Irish racing and as we work towards the resumption of racing, it is reassuring to know that they will be there when needed.”
Irish European Breeders’ Fund is funded by contributions from Irish stallion farms and have regularly made annual contributions to Irish racing of over €2 million supporting both flat and national hunt races.
For the last number of years, highlights of the Irish EBF flat programme include the popular Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction series, fillies only handicaps which provide valuable opportunities along with the traditional strong support of two and three year old maidens.
2020 sees the introduction of a series of median races, where connections of two-year-old’s can compete for valuable prize-money and the exciting new Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes worth €200,000 to be run at Naas racecourse on August 3rd.
