The British arm of the European Breeders' Fund (EBF) has become an Official Partner of The Jockey Club, it was announced today, in recognition of the major investment domestic Stallion Studs make into British Racing via the British EBF.
The partnership is designed to help to heighten awareness within the British Racing industry of the significant contribution the British EBF is making to racing in this country, using the platform The Jockey Club can provide through its 15-strong group of racecourses nationwide.
The vast majority of the £1.6 million per year supplementation of prize money that the British EBF provides is via contributions from the income of stallions standing in Great Britain. EBF enhancements to prize money are always reflected above the minimum value of a race, so owners benefit directly from the fund. The trustees also direct money into parts of the programme that encourage progression or which require support.
Recent Flat racing initiatives include investment in Listed races, the EBF Breeders’ Series of fillies’ handicaps and the sire and dam restricted two-year-old maiden races which support the renewed industry focus on stayers. The 80 National Hunt races which the EBF support have a strong focus on fillies and mares to compliment industry drive in this area.
Founded in 1750, today The Jockey Club is the largest commercial group in British horseracing and stages a range of racing, music and other events and activities at its venues nationwide, including four of the five British Classics, the Randox Health Grand National and The Cheltenham Festival. It is governed by Royal Charter to act as a champion for British Racing’s long-term prosperity, including reinvesting all its profits back into the sport.
Stephen Wallis, Group Director of International and Racing Relations at The Jockey Club, explained why The Jockey Club were keen to initiate the new partnership:
“The European Breeders’ Fund has been an integral part of the landscape of British Racing for more than 30 years. We are proud to stage the largest number of EBF races at The Jockey Club’s racecourses and thus help to facilitate this important initiative for horsemen. We are very pleased to be working with the British EBF now as an Official Partner in the promotion of our sport and in support of our prize money aims. Hopefully the group-wide platform we offer will help to showcase to the industry what a significant contribution the British EBF is making to racing in this country.”
Philip Mitchell, Chairman of the British EBF, commented:
“The trustees of the British EBF are delighted that The Jockey Club is acknowledging British stallion studs and owners’ support of British Racing in this way. We hope that this new relationship will increase the profile of the organisation and help more people understand what we do and how we are funded. The Fund is still a vital tool to boost prize money which we could not provide without the support and generosity of the stallion masters.
“We are working with other racecourses and groups on similar projects to the group-wide partnership with The Jockey Club and its racecourses, and hope that the initiative that they have shown in approaching us will pave the way for further industry engagement.”
About the EBF
Under the guidance and jurisdiction of the EBF Co-Ordinating Committee, the British EBF’S mandate is:
• To ensure a minimum of 70% of 2yo maiden / novice races in GB carry EBF conditions are confined to EBF eligible runners
• To provide funds to support races of value to the Thoroughbred breed that may otherwise be lost due to a lack of commercial attractiveness to racecourses
• To implement new races that may be of benefit to the breed
• To promote and support organisations whose purposes include assisting and improving the breeding of thoroughbred horses
• To provide financial support for equine research beneficial to the thoroughbred horse
Since 1983, the British EBF has contributed over £31.5 million to prize money in British Racing and supports over 600 flat races and 80 national hunt races each season.
5% of the total BEBF income is ring-fenced as a development fund which racecourses can apply to in order to stage races which enhance the programme or that would otherwise struggle for financial support.
