EBF

There is now another reason - or make that 84 reasons - to look forward to the Brocklesby S. in a little over five weeks. The traditional curtain-raiser for the British two-year-old season is the first of 84 races this year to benefit from increased funding through a programme of high-value developmental races in 2024. This initiative, which was launched last year with a series of 63 races, is driven by British stallion studs through the European Breeders' Fund (EBF), Juddmonte, Darley and Tattersalls, and will provide more than £3...

In November, American racing will celebrate the 40th running of the Breeders' Cup, with $28 million in prize-money for 14 races across two days. Breeders' Cup Limited, the organising company for this global highlight of the Flat racing programme, was founded in 1982 from an original suggestion by John Gaines, who proposed that the prize-money for the Breeders' Cup races would come from contributions made by stallion owners. The contributions paid were decided on a sliding scale relative to each stallion's nomination fee and number of mares covered in a...

Entries are now open for Irish EBF Barrier Trials, which will be held at Dundalk Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Trials are open to unraced 2- and 3-year-olds and return to Dundalk for the first time since August, 2022. They will be contested over five, six and seven furlongs. The most recent Irish EBF Barrier Trials, held at Naas Racecourse in May, have already produced multiple winners, including Royal Ascot winner Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}), listed winner Warnie (Ire) (Highland Root {Ire}), group-placed Mythology (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), and multiple...

The deadline to register 2-year-olds to the European Breeders Fund by a stallion not registered to the EBF is Friday, June 30. "Owners and trainers looking to campaign a horse in Europe should check that it is EBF nominated as over 80% of 2-year-old maiden/novice races are confined to EBF eligibles," said Kerry Murphy of the EBF said. "Once eligible, horses can compete for a pool of over €5million available in added prizemoney throughout Europe, including the valuable series being staged in GB and Ireland. This nomination stage largely relates...

A new website for the European Breeders' Fund, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023, launched this week. The site offers a better user experience with improved search capabilities for owners and trainers, and dedicated pages for each member country detailing their Trustees, race programmes and news. "The 40th anniversary of the European Breeders Fund is a good time to refresh the website and include more information on each member country," Kerry Murphy, CEO of the European Breeders' Fund, said. "The EBF is putting more funds into prizemoney than ever...

Ballylinch Stud's John O'Connor has been named the new Chairman of the European Breeders' Fund. He replaces Philip Freedman, who served two terms in that role. O'Connor, who has also been Chairman of the Irish EBF and ITBA in the past, said, "I am delighted to take on the Chairmanship of the EBF in its 40th year. The EBF plays a significant role in supporting the racing industry at many levels. Due to the calibre of stallions that now stand in Europe and through the commitment of stallion farms large...

Entries are open for Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Dundalk Stadium, to be held Tuesday, July 5, beginning at noon (local time). Operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by Irish EBF and the IHRB, Trials are open to unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and are run over five to seven furlongs. Trials, principally staged to offer a platform for unraced Irish Thoroughbreds, also serve as a learning experience for inexperienced horses. Notable Trial graduates include Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint winner A Case Of You (Ire) and Group 3...

Allocating an additional £100,000 to the total prize fund, the European Breeders' Fund announced the British EBF 2yo Series will offer £200,000 in 2022. The series of races was designed to provide high-value end of season goals for offspring by middle market stallions. The finals, which are staged at Group 1 independent racecourses, will be held between early September and October. Goodwood and York both pledged the full financial support; match-funding the £100,000 British EBF prize money contribution. A full list of qualifiers can be accessed here. Race conditions for...

A horse for 2022: Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Emollient, by Empire Maker), with Andre Fabre. First season or proven: Proven. Speed or stamina: If I had horses in training an Ascot Gold Cup winner would be the dream, so stamina. Eat out or home cooking: Both; but eating out has become way too expensive. Newspaper or podcast: Newspaper, and sometimes even in print. Ascot or Longchamp: Ascot in June and July, Longchamp in April and October (I'm spoilt!). Walk in the country or art gallery: A walk in the country every...

Entries for the Aug. 18 Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Dundalk close at 5 p.m. GMT on Wednesday, Aug. 11, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing announced on Tuesday. Backed by the Irish European Breeders' Fund and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and operated by ITM, the trials-which begin at 12 p.m.--are open to unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds over five, six and seven furlongs. Recent graduates of the programme include G3 Gordon S. hero Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF S. winner Wren's Breath (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}). A...

Entries are now open for the next session of Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Dundalk Stadium Aug. 18. Operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by Irish EBF and the IHRB, the trials are open to unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. Recent notable Trial graduates include G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor (Ire) and listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF S. winner Wren's Breath (Ire). Trials, contested over five to seven furlongs, are recorded, timed, and made available to view online shortly after running on the ITM website and social media....

Additional British races have been added to Horse Racing Ireland's IRE Incentive scheme. IRE Incentive races will be held at Nottingham, Newbury, Pontefract, York, Musselburgh, Salisbury and Goodwood in August and September. The IRE Incentive scheme awards a €10,000 Irish Sales voucher to the owners of Irish-bred winners of designated races. Vouchers can be spent on Irish-breds at Irish public auction Sales. Since the scheme launched in March 2021, €480,000 in vouchers has been distributed to 39 individual owners. Find out more about the IRE Incentive scheme and view a...