The different incentives available across Europe this summer for those in search of prize money and black type success!

Article by Lissa Oliver

In February, the European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced changes to the 2024 European programme of Flat Black-Type races. The EPC sanctioned a total of 826 Black-Type races (838 in 2023), comprising 416 Group races (418 in 2023) and 410 Listed races (420 in 2023). Five Pattern races have been downgraded in 2024, with a further 11 Listed races losing that status.

Jason Morris, Chair of the EPC, explained, “This year will see another contraction in the number of Pattern and Listed races to be staged throughout Europe, with the total number having declined from 852 races in 2022 to 826 in 2024. The European Pattern Committee continues to enforce the most stringent international quality control measures so that the racing and breeding industries can have the utmost confidence in the quality of European Black Type.”

This leaves trainers rethinking traditional routes to Black Type, but at the same time adding new avenues, some of which could lead to some interesting destinations. The EPC approved an application from Denmark to stage a new Black Type race in 2024, with the Golden Mile at Klampenborg over 1600m (8f) for three-years-olds and upwards in May being upgraded to Listed status and carrying a purse of €46,749 (£40,000). 

In Ireland, the Salsabil Stakes, a 2000m (10f) race for three-year-old fillies at Navan in April, has been upgraded from Listed to Group 3. Ireland will also stage a new Listed race for three-year-olds over 2400m (12f) at Gowran Park 27th July, the Marble City Stakes worth €46,749 (£40,000).

Flagship races in Poland and Spain

Although no new Listed race applications have been received from emerging racing nations, the EPC noted the strong first Listed edition of the Wielka Warszawska in Poland in 2023. Run over 2600m (13f) at Sluzewiec Racecourse 6th October, for three-year-olds up, it carries a prize of €111,138 (£95,092).

The €85,000 (£72,728) Gran Premio de Madrid in Spain also continues to perform well after being allocated Listed status by the EPC in 2022. It’s run at Madrid over 2500m (12.5f) 22nd June for three-year-olds up. 

These were created through the recent Flagship Race scheme by the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and EPC, allowing countries with no Black Type races to apply for a single Flagship race which qualifies for Black Type at a lower rating level. This provides horses with a slightly easier Black Type opportunity, by 2.2kg (5lbs). It also opens up new and often interesting destinations for owners and team.

Morocco 

Dr Paull Khan, Secretary-General of the EMHF, explains, “The quality control that is applied to European Black Type is the most stringent in the world. This is good, of course, because everyone recognises the strength of European Group and Listed races. But, on the other hand, countries with less-rich racing industries have long found it hard to establish races which attract the necessary quality of runners to qualify for Black Type. Essentially, for most race types, the average ratings of the first four finishers must be at least 100. Two years ago, the EMHF and EPC devised the Flagship Race scheme, under which countries with no Black Type races can apply for a single Flagship race to be given Black Type based on average ratings of the first four finishers being 5lbs lower than would normally be the case.  In simple terms, this means that trainers with horses up to 5lbs shy of normal Listed Race standard stand a reasonable chance of attaining black type when targeted at these races.

“There is a ripple effect which is of benefit to trainers,” Dr Khan points out. ”Other countries are looking to join the party, and in order to attract the necessary quality of entries - particularly from abroad – are ploughing money into their candidate races, and are often offering attractive travel incentives, too. Even if these races have not yet attained their Black Type status, they can still be immensely attractive propositions.”

Top of the list in this respect is Morocco’s Grand Prix de la Sorec. The 10th renewal of the Morocco International meeting will be held on the weekend of 16th and 17th November 2024 at the Casablanca-Anfa racecourse, a dirt track. This prestigious 14-race meeting plays a major role in promoting the Moroccan horseracing industry internationally and includes eight international races worth €1m  in total. Sunday is devoted to Purebred Arabians, with over €500,000 in prize money for the four Black Type races. 

Saturday is an all-thoroughbred card and of interest here is the feature €123,000 Grand Prix de la Sorec, 2400m (12f) for three-year-olds up. Entry is €600  by 31st October, free to declare. Also on the card is the €71,600 Grand Prix des Eleveurs for three-year-old fillies, over 1750m (8.75f) and the €61,600 Grand Prix des Proprietaires for three-year-old colts, over 1900m (9.5f). Casablanca-Anfa racecourse provides a children's area, entertainment and excellent facilities for visiting owners and trainers. The Cité du Cheval is the 87-hectare training centre on the outskirts of Casablanca, 15 minutes from Casablanca airport and 30 minutes from the racecourse, with 400 boxes, several training tracks, a farriery centre, two restaurants and a housing and catering area for staff.

International runners will have their flights, via the BBA, paid for, or up to €3,000 toward overland transport. Flights, hotel accommodation and all transfers are provided for two owners, the trainer and guest, and the jockey. Hospitality includes lunch at the racecourse on both days and dinner at the Gala Evening on Saturday.

As Dr Khan points out, “Another factor here is the ‘racing tourism’ element. The exotic location of these races provides an additional appeal for owners and trainers who want to soak up the fantastic experience of racing in different cultures.” 

Turkey

Turkey and its International festival on the first weekend of September at Veliefendi Racetrack, Istanbul, has for long been a popular destination, particularly for British trainers. Since Brexit, however, the issues involving a Third Country have deterred British runners, leaving the races more open for other European runners. What is instead happening is that two valuable €240,000 (£208,000) Group races have been wholly contested by locally-trained horses, the 2023 Bosphorus Cup attracting just five runners.

The International Bosphorus Cup has this year been downgraded to Group 3, but remains an attractive proposition. Run on turf over 2400m (12f), the €240,000 (£208,000) race is open to three-year-olds up. With the same prize money, the 1600m (8f) International Topkapi Trophy is another Group 3 for three-year-olds up that last year attracted no foreign runners. And the same applies to the fillies only Group 3 International Istanbul Trophy over 1600m (8f), worth €127,000 (£108,645).

Entry for the International meeting is by 2nd August, and a very generous travel subsidy is available to foreign runners, including $18,000 to horses arriving from the continents of America (North and South), Oceania, Africa and Far East countries. Up to €12,000 is available to European and UAE runners.

Sweden and Norway

Sweden’s 500-acre Bro Park has permanent stabling and training facilities, just over 30 minutes from the centre of Stockholm by car and a similar distance from Arlanda Airport. The two main international days are the Stockholm Cup day 15th September and the Stockholm Stora day 9th June, both branded as Super Sunday, during which the local 1000 and 2000 Guineas are also run. Run on turf at Bro Park, the Group 3 Stockholm Stora Pris is run over 1750m (8.75f) and worth €88,817 (£75,992), with a strong supporting card of the €29,309 (£25,000) Listed Bro Park Varsprint over 1200m (6f) and Listed Bloomers’ Vase 1600m (8f) for fillies, carrying the same value.

The Group 3 Stockholm Cup International over 2400m (12f) on turf carries prize money of €124,343 (£106,380) and the three supporting races each offer €58,619 (£50,151); the Listed Tattersalls Nickes Minneslöpning 1600m (8f) run on dirt, the Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship 1200m (6f) on turf, and the Listed Lanwades Stud Stakes 1600m (8f) on turf for fillies. Lanwades Stud also generously offers a free nomination to one of its stallions to the winner. The card also includes a 1400m (7f) two-year-old race on turf worth €36,859 (£31,534), the Svealandlopning. The other mentioned races are for three-year-olds up.

There are also interesting opportunities in Norway on Norsk Derby day 25th August at Oslo, as Director of Racing Liv Kristiansen tells us. ”Oslo offers a great range of both historic and modern hotels and restaurants and makes for a great long weekend with the Derby Day as a finale. The racecourse is just a 15-minute drive from the city centre and is home to most of the racehorses in Norway. On the day, there will be many runners from Denmark and Sweden as well.”

Kristiansen reminds us that it is prohibited to use the whip throughout all of Scandinavia, and in Norway jockeys are not allowed to carry a whip in races for three-year olds and older.

Germany

As an accompaniment to the familiar Pattern races in Germany, Deutscher Galopp Director of Racing Rüdiger Schmanns tells us, ”in general all races are open for foreign trained horses, even handicaps if the horses have a rating in the home country. We have good prize money options in handicaps on the so-called Premium Race Meetings, which are meetings on Sundays or Bank Holidays with at least a Group race on offer on that day. Handicaps of the best category are in total value of €20,000 (£17,103), the second best of €15,000 (£12,827), the third best of €10,000 (£8,551), and the lowest category of €8,000 (£6,841). At the Baden-Baden meetings there is usually one handicap of the day with higher prize money and in Bad Harzburg we have the so-called Super-Handicaps with exceptional prize money in the different categories, but they have an early closing stage at the beginning of April. Average prize money is the highest ever on offer in Germany at €14,200 (£12,143).”

France

Handicaps should also be on the radar in France, where France Galop is contributing heavily in the relaunch of the Quinté+ bet. As a result, the 13 Major Handicaps programme has been remodelled to restore appeal. Four Super Handicaps are now worth €100,000 (£85,519) and eight more have increased in value to €75,000 (£64139), with maximum runners raised to 20. The four €100,000 Super Handicaps cannot be on a Group 1 card and will be run on 7th April at ParisLongchamp 1400m (7f) four-year-olds up; 5th May ParisLongchamp 2000m (10f) four-year-olds up; 4th August Deauville 1600m (8f) three-year-olds up; and 8th September ParisLongchamp 1850m (9f) three-year-olds up.

The dates of the €75,000 Grands Handicaps, with a maximum of 18 runners, are 2nd June Chantilly 2400m (12f) four-year-olds up; 16th June Chantilly 1800m (9f) four-year-olds up; 15th August Deauville 1200m (6f) three-year-olds up; 18th August Deauville 1900m (9.5f) three-year-olds up; 5 October ParisLongchamp 1600m (8f) three-year-olds up; 5th October ParisLongchamp 2500m 12.5f) three-year-olds up; 6th October ParisLongchamp 1300m (6.5f) three-year-olds up; 6th October ParisLongchamp 2000m (10f) three-year-olds up.

Another shake-up comes in the reduction of entry fees for Group 1 races to revitalise entries, introducing a uniform entry price of 0.65% of prize value, with the exception of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Classic races. This lowers the entry fees for 15 Group 1 races, out of a total of 21. Trainers should note that entries have also been brought forward to earlier dates, now four weeks prior to the race.

Ireland

Horse Racing Ireland confirmed a record 395 fixtures for 2024, with an increase of €1.3m (£1.1m) in prize money, creating additional opportunities for horses at all levels. In addition, the final €1.4m (£1.2m) in capital schemes will be paid out for stableyard expansions (€0.3m) and racetrack and industry facility improvements (€1.1m), making it a more attractive proposal for visiting horses and team.

HRI, the Irish EBF and Gowran Park Racecourse have announced a significant boost to the three-year-old programme for middle-distance horses with a new Spring Series of median sires races, culminating in the €200,000 (£170,980) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, 2000m (10f), the richest race ever held at the County Kilkenny course, on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd June. The race is designed to attract three-year-old middle-distance horses with a median price of no more than €75,000 (£64,121). The winner will receive an automatic free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on 30th June. 

The series, with total prize money of €330,000 (£282,125), will consist of six races with a minimum prize-fund of €25,000 (£21,373) per race. The Curragh, Navan and Cork will host four maiden races between them, two for fillies only, and each of these races will be restricted to runners whose sires achieved a median price of not more than €50,000 (£42,747) in 2022. 

A median price of €75,000 (£64,121) will apply to runners in The Irish Stallions Farms EBF three-year-old Spring Series Race, with a value of €30,000 (£25,647) at Roscommon on 13 May. The same median price restriction will apply to runners in the €200,000 series Finale. 

Racecourse Manager Eddie Scally says, “Gowran Park are really excited to host the inaugural €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, the region’s richest Flat race. This race will form part of an action-packed day both on and off the track with live music and a massive family fun day. We hope the Gowran Classic will attract all the top trainers and riders from both Ireland and abroad and see for themselves the warm Kilkenny welcome.”

Irish Stallion Farms EBF already sponsor two successful series for two-year-olds, the auction and median series with 27 races in each and a combined value of nearly €850,000 (£726,712). ”We felt it important to develop a similar series for later developing middle-distance three-year-olds,” says Irish EBF Chairman Joe Foley, ”hence the Spring Series was initiated with the Gowran Classic as its centrepiece. We look forward to seeing this three-year-old series grow and develop and are delighted to support Gowran Park racecourse in particular, who are investing heavily in their facilities.”

 Curragh-based trainer Willie McCreery points out, “These races are designed to be linked to the median price of the stallion, which allows everyone to participate. It offers great opportunities for middle-distance horses that needed a bit of time to mature and gives them a big target to aim at. The prize money along with the ‘win and you’re in’ to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a super incentive.”

The new series consists of the 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden (Fillies) at the Curragh 6th April; 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden at Navan 9th April; the 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden at Navan 27th April; the 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden (Fillies) at Cork 10th May; the 2000m (10f) €30,000 3yo Median Auction Winners of 1 at Roscommon 30th May; and the Gowran Classic.

If tourism is the agenda, don’t forget Ireland’s only beach race meeting at Laytown, a small seaside resort just 46km (29 miles) from Dublin. The six-race card at Laytown races is held Monday 16th September 2024 with an average of €7,000 (£6,000) to the winner.

Britain

Last year saw the introduction of high value developmental races in Britain, a scheme the BHA has expanded for 2024. From 63, there are now 84 developmental races for the Flat season worth over €3.5m (£3m) in total prize money. The initiative has been made possible by British Stallion Studs (EBF), Juddmonte, Darley and Tattersalls, as well as the BHA Development Fund and is aimed at supporting the domestic breeding industry and encouraging the purchase of young talent in Britain. The races offer enhanced prize money to horses embarking on the early stages of their racing careers. 

Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer of the BHA, explains, “These races play a hugely important role within the race programme and yet, historically, it is an area where prize money has been behind our international competitors. It is essential that steps are taken to retain quality horses on our shores and with over 80 of these races scheduled for the coming season, this is one initiative that we believe will support this broader aim.”

The 2024 programme began with the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the 2024 Turf season, one of 60 such races for two-year-olds. It comprises 32 Open Novice/Maiden races for two-year-olds, worth a minimum of €46,789 (£40,000); 29 Restricted Novice/Maiden races for two-year-olds, worth a minimum of €35,091 (£30,000); and 23 Open Novice/Maiden races for three-year-olds up, worth a minimum of €46,789 (£40,000).

“British Stallion Studs (EBF) are delighted to be a leading sponsor of the 2024 High Value Developmental Race programme, with a contribution of over €380,172 (£325,000), covering more than 30 races,” says Simon Sweeting, Chairman of British Stallion Studs (EBF). “One of the unique features of our prize money contributions is to encourage racecourses to ‘match-fund’; it is wonderful to see the model we pioneered and embedded, replicated by our fellow sponsors in these races.”

The EBF remains the leading sponsor of European racing and Kerry Murphy, European Breeders Fund CEO, points out, ”The EBF was set up over 40 years ago primarily to tackle the threat of less prize money in two-year-old maidens. With £3.5m total prize money and over 80 high value two-year-old and three-year-old races worth at least £30,000 from the end of March to October, there will be opportunities for all types. It is a great credit to all involved and, of course, all the British stallion farms that contribute to the EBF, and I hope will give owners and purchasers at the yearling sales plenty of incentives.” 

The full race list can be seen at:  

https://ebfstallions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2024-Development-Race-List-public.pdf

A 20-minute drive from Stansted Airport, Chelmsford City offers some tempting opportunities for runners from abroad. Not least is the Cardinal Condition Stakes on Saturday 6th April, a Class 2 race that is the last stop of the European Road to The Kentucky Derby, a “win and you’re in”. Run over a mile (1600m) and restricted to three-year-olds, the race is worth £100,000 (€116,953), with the winning horse receiving 30 points, ensuring a place at Churchill Downs. Second through to fifth place receive 12, 9, 6 and 3 points respectively.

“Last year Bold Act won for Charlie Appleby and he has since won a Grade 3 at Keeneland. The runner-up was the Archie Watson-trained Brave Emperor, who had won twice here as a two-year-old and he followed up with a Group 3 win in Germany next time out. Brave Emperor has since added three more Group wins and has just won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, a local Group 2, at Doha. We are hopeful of seeing the Cardinal Condition Stakes upgraded to Listed status for next year, given the strength of the race,” says Neil Graham, Chelmsford City Racing Director.

Another imminent upgrade to hope for is the currently Listed Queen Charlotte Stakes over 7f (1400m) for fillies four-year-olds and up, run on Sunday 7th July, with prize money of £100,000 (€116,953). Graham points out, “Past winners include One Thousand Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook, Group 1 winner Highfield Princess and Soft Whisper, a subsequent Group 2 winner in Meydan. It comes a month before the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood and is good stepping stone, as Billesdon Brook showed. It is also Britain’s second-most valuable Listed race, behind only the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

The third of Chelmsford City’s feature races is the £80,000 (€93,595) Listed Chelmer Fillies Stakes over 6f (1200m) for three-year-old fillies, run Thursday 2nd May. “It’s a good option for the non-stayers and it’s a race that builds on quality year on year. Last year it was won by George Boughey’s Believing, who won a Group 3 at Chantilly on her next start,” says Graham.

“We work hard on promoting our feature races, which includes ensuring a high level of prize money, and we work closely with Adrian Beaumont at the International Racing Bureau to attract foreign runners. We look to offer travel incentives to runners from abroad and we consistently offer Class 6 prize money of £7,650 (€8,949) and £9,650 (€11,288) for Class 5 races, considerably more than any other All-Weather track in Britain. 

“We have 125 boxes built to the highest standard located in a quiet and secure yard, with ample room for parking and a fantastic team on hand. Paper or shavings are available.” 

“We are in the process of developing a Turf track for 2025 to open up further opportunities,” adds Graham, “and a month ago we were voted one of the Top 10 racecourses in Britain, which is a nice accolade to receive and a reflection of the excellent customer experience we offer.”

Overlooking the parade ring, the exclusive Owners and Trainers Bar provides a complimentary welcome drink and light refreshments. An additional facility for Owners and Trainers adjacent to the parade ring has a fully accessible glass-walled marquee and lawn, and there is also a dedicated viewing area in the main Grandstand, fully wheelchair accessible, for owners with runners on the day.

If it’s culture and tourism of most interest, a day at Ascot is always a highlight. This season, Ascot’s total prize money has risen to €20.4m (£17.5m) including Royal Ascot at €11.6m (£10m), with no Royal meeting race run for less than €128,688 (£110,000). Entry for Royal Ascot Group 1s is 30th April and for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 4th June.

Conditions for the Chesham Stakes (7f 2yo’s), traditionally run on the last day of the fixture, have been altered for 2024 - with horses no longer eligible to qualify via their dam’s performance. The race will return to a stallion only qualification as the race was prior to 2019 (sire must have won over 10f+).

Hannah Parlett, Owners and Trainers Manager, tells us, ”We have received an ROA Gold Standard again for our outstanding owners’ and trainers’ facilities here at Ascot, which include dining rooms overlooking the pre-parade ring in addition to a dedicated bar in the same area, along with a superb track facing facility. There are also two dedicated viewing areas.”  

Another ROA Gold Standard winner is Newbury, recognising Newbury’s continued efforts to enhance the on-course experience for owners. The OLBG Owners Club is close to the pre-parade ring beside the owners and trainers entrance. It is exclusively reserved for owners, with a private terrace. 

*Euro/Sterling rates Xe.com 07/03/2024

Shared ownership

It has always struck me—as someone with a keen interest in most sports—that the lack of harmonisation around various rules and issues such as interference, jockey’s weights, and doping isn’t helpful as racing remains such a puzzle to most of the world.

This is evident too in the area of shared ownership, of syndicates, racing clubs and the developing area of micro share groups.

Never has it been more important for racing to attract fresh blood, with its core support ageing and the sport barely causing a ripple in mainstream media. Shared ownership is a foolproof mechanism for unearthing new acolytes because emotion and feeling will trump catchy slogans or slick promotional videos every time. If you want converts, having them in the parade ring as part of the inner circle and seeing their horse run and contend or win is your best bet.

Piers Winkworth, racing manager of Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds, summed it up well after Dragon Leader maintained his 100 per cent record from three runs by landing the £147,540 first prize in the Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes at York’s prestigious Ebor meeting in August.

Dragon Leader with Ryan Moore up wins the 2023 Premier Yearling Stakes at York’s prestigious Ebor meeting in August.

“This is what syndicates are all about really—having cracks at these ultra-valuable sales handicaps with modestly bought horses,” Winkworth noted. “Dragon Leader, a £45,000 Donny yearling, goes and wins the big race by some distance under Ryan Moore. It was thrilling for all of our owners. We had about 16 people up at York to see him, and there were great celebrations after the race”.

Johnny Murtagh has participated in many such celebrations, having had a hefty number of syndicates at Fox Covert Stables since he took out a licence to train at the conclusion of a stellar riding career.

The Curragh-based conditioner secured his first Gp. 1 triumph with Fitzwilliam Racing’s Champers Elysees in 2020, and bagged his first Classic the following season when Sonnyboyliston swooped to score in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger for Kildare Racing Club.

This season, Murtagh has had runners for 11 syndicates, saddling winners for six of them. So enamoured is he with shared ownership that he has just launched a new racing club, Racing Revolution, more of which anon.

“There’s nothing better than coming back into the ring and seeing people who never thought they’d ever own a horse so happy”, reports Murtagh.

“We’ve been very lucky with Fitzwilliam. They ended up winning a G.p 1. We now have the likes of the Brunabonne Syndicate—lads from where I grew up. They’ve been so lucky with Mashhoor. He won a couple of big races (including at Gp. 3 level), brought the lads to York and Ascot, and ran on all the big days”.

The idea of the racing club came out of Mashhoor’s Listed triumph on Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas day at Curragh Racecourse in May. In particular, it was the reaction of Tommy Dowd, a celebrated former Gaelic footballer who led Meath to All-Ireland glory in 1996, that resonated.

“Tommy Dowd picked up the Sam Maguire as captain of Meath and he said, ‘This is the same feeling as that.’”

Dr Paull Khan, secretary-general of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation summarises the overall situation brilliantly.

“In many countries (in and outside our region), racing is struggling to maintain its popularity and relevance, as societal practices and preferences shift,” notes Khan.

“Broadening the base of racehorse ownership may well prove a key weapon in countering this trend. Quite simply, the more people that have an involvement in owning a racehorse, the more our sport becomes embedded in society.

“For racing authorities, the challenge is not limited to promotion. Appropriate Rules of Racing must underpin such activity, which allow for and define co-ownership options.

“But there is also a potential downside, in that the creation of ownership entities which encompass large groups of individuals brings with it increased risks of incompetent or, yet worse, fraudulent management. Any examples of people suffering bad experiences, which are not satisfactorily dealt with, are likely to gain much publicity and have the effect of putting off future owners. So the final aspect to which racing authorities must give thought is the need for effective regulatory oversight, to minimise this risk”.

What follows is something of a potted overview of the situation in Europe, thanks to a number of different stakeholders from governing bodies to trainers and plenty more in between. 

BRITAIN

Establishing a new syndicate isn’t laborious in Britain, and only the manager/syndicator must register as an owner. The members do not have to register, but an updated list of members must be provided to the BHA as well as the percentage share held by each one.

Racing clubs are focussed entirely on the experience of ownership but without having any equity in the horse or share in whatever proceeds it accrues while racing. Members pay an annual fee to enjoy most of the other benefits of ownership, on race day and while in training. Once again, only the person setting up or running the club must register.

Micro share groups are becoming more visible and are a very cheap way to become involved in racing as a tiny percentage of a share, normally a fraction of 1 percent , can be acquired for as little as £40. Like racing clubs, they are primarily experiential, though members are owners and are entitled to the equivalent cut of any money accumulated.

All forms of shared ownership in Britain are subject to a code of conduct that includes specific mandatory clauses in each written contract. Transparency and protection are the key tenets of the code. The BHA has committed to auditing a proportion of syndicate/racing club/micro share contracts to ensure compliance.

George Baker’s ‘Have horse, will travel,’ mantra has always made him attractive to shared ownership groups. The Robins Farm trainer has saddled winners all over the world and is as good a host as he is a trainer.

The Surrey-based conditioner has his own racing club, the George Baker Racing Club, which provides all the perks of an involvement in racehorses, including open house visits, parade ring passes, regular communication, picnics at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, and even a share in a prize money. 

Baker joins Andrew Balding and Harry Eustace as trainers for the MyRacehorse fractional share group, making a big splash on this side of the Atlantic and having initially enjoyed stupendous success when established in America by Michael Behrens.

The relationship with MyRacehorse began with Get It and Watchya racing in Bahrain; and the ambition was rewarded by the former being awarded a victory after the winner on the day was disqualified due to a positive sample.

“The key point here is making racehorse ownership accessible to absolutely everybody in the way that it has been for a few years now and obviously in Australia, where the big syndicates have had massive success”, Baker declares. 

“Like our horse (Get It) at Wolverhampton (on September 7) that won the Racing League race—a share in him was £45. The wonderful thing about a share at whatever level [is] the horse becomes your horse, regardless of whether you’ve paid a million pounds or forty pounds. 

“We all know it’s the way forward because we’ve just got to get as many people as we can into this game, and of course you hope that some of them become more heavily involved in the sport and that it evolves to a longer association; but the most important thing is showing racing as a viable means of enjoyment”.

A degree of suspicion has lingered around micro share operations, but Baker is happy to go to bat for MyRacehorse. 

“I can’t speak for any of the other micro share entities, though obviously I’ve heard rumours of numbers not quite stacking up or that horses worth ‘x’ have been marketed for ‘x + y + z’; but that’s not something I can be quoted on because I haven’t had intimate involvement or knowledge.

“I know from the MyRacehorse perspective, they are wholly transparent and very keen to be treated as you would treat a security in the stock market. They want to create a secondary market so people can trade in and out of their shares. 

“People demand absolute transparency and absolute integrity and from my experience, clearly that’s what MyRacehorse have based their brilliant business on in America and Australia; and they’re trying to bring the same criteria here. And that’s absolutely correct. I don’t want to be involved with any organisation or micro share entity where there’s a level of suspicion around the numbers. And that’s why MyRacehorse is creating a niche and an attractive market”.

Baker returns to Get It and Wolverhampton to ram home his point about the impact feeling a winner can have regardless of financial outlay.

“There was one of the guys in the winner’s enclosure who’d won a share that night in a race card competition that MyRacehorse had organised with the Racing League. And there he is in the winner’s enclosure being photographed with (jockey) Paul Mulrennan and the horse. The guy was almost in a state of shock, but he was absolutely loving it”.

IRELAND

Ireland is among the most proactive European jurisdictions for the promotion and growth of multiple ownership. Figures from 2022 indicate that the number of syndicates increased by 24 per cent to 825, comprising 8,030 people. 

The number of racing clubs increased by 6 per cent, comprising 1,683 members. 

People can join existing syndicates or racing clubs or establish their own. Syndicates in Ireland comprise 3–100 people, while racing clubs can have an unlimited number of members.

The above figure for syndicates also includes the evolving fractional ownership model, with MyRacehorse having horses in training with Joseph O’Brien and Michael O’Callaghan.

“It is a great way to dip your toe in the water and see if it is the pastime for you,” says HRI’s owner development manager, Amber Byrne of shared ownership, who adds that plenty with the means to indulge in sole ownership prefer syndicates as a means of spreading their risk or because they derive more enjoyment from them.

HRI maintains a register of racehorse owners and can void or suspend owner registrations. The onus falls on the agent to ensure the syndicate/club and its members complies with the rules of racing, HRI directives, owner eligibility policy etc. Unlike the BHA, they do not have a specific code of conduct in place but advise that all syndicates and clubs provide them.

Agents must be registered as full owners and provide necessary ID, bank details etc., while a full list of membership including addresses and contact details and shares held must be supplied and continuously updated. Syndicates/clubs must declare if they are selling shares publicly and declare the maximum number of shares available in a particular horse. 

Jack Cantillon, founder of the hugely popular Syndicates.Racing, says HRI has it just right in terms of regulation and oversight.

“We recently registered in France, and it took over a month for our application to be successfully processed; so we should be thankful for how quick it has been for us to do so in Ireland”, Cantillon relates. “We also are registered in New York, and they even wanted my fingerprints before we got over the line! Ireland strikes a balance of enough protections while not over burdening with ridiculous red tape.

“Syndicates are the backbone of building the pipeline of ownership of racehorses throughout the world”, he continues. “We’ve had incidents of people taking a €200 share as their first share in a racehorse and progressing to owning horses worth €100,000 on their own. It’s an amazing journey to see in full sight and something that’s incredibly rewarding”.

Syndicates.Racing has enjoyed spectacular success in a short period in both codes, with runners and winners at a host of major meetings and venues, including graded-winning mares Cabaret Queen and Grangee. Their trainers include Willie Mullins, Joseph O’Brien, Henry de Bromhead, Jessica Harrington, Gavin Cromwell, Peter Fahey, John McConnell, Jack Davison and the aforementioned Johnny Murtagh. They also have horses in training in Britain and America.

Grangee with Jack, John and Tom from Syndicates.Racing.

“We have been blessed with over a thousand owners that have gotten involved in Syndicates.Racing since its inception and bringing so many of them to the winner’s enclosure has been a hugely rewarding thing… If you do have a positive experience, there’s very few more rewarding experiences of intimate involvement that you can get in any sport”.

As mentioned earlier, Murtagh is such a believer in the benefits of shared ownership that he has just launched his own racing club.

“You’d love people to have a good experience of racing. They’re going to be racing, but they’re going to see behind the scenes as well—even things like a horse being shod or going through the stalls; the ins and outs of JP Murtagh on a weekly basis with a horse ready to run. You’ll have a morning on the gallops, a few get-togethers. I think there’s going to be a great take-up and plenty of entertainment.

“There’s a bit more work, but I only speak to the racing manager and they keep everyone else informed. You’re going to have to employ somebody to take videos and keep it updated every day. I want people to see what’s going on and to feel part of it.

“You like to promote the game as best you can and show it in a good light and maybe in a way that people with some bit of interest want to see more and you never know what it leads to. One fella might say, ‘I enjoyed that; can you buy me a horse?’ Rather than jumping into it straight away, they get a good feel.

“I think it’ll work. We’ve a good horse, and we’ve a plan for the horse. We have everything in place, ready to go. I think people will like to be part of it.

While there is “a bit involved” in setting Racing Revolution up, “Murtagh found HRI very helpful. Ireland’s governing body is full square behind shared ownership as a means of growing the sport and industry.

“The promotion of shared ownership is central to our domestic marketing strategy”, Byrne emphasises. “Syndicates and clubs are key in introducing the ownership concept. We see it as an affordable entry stage into ownership and a way for those interested in racing to get closer to the action and behind-the-scenes access.

“For the most part our domestic marketing promotion concentrates on highlighting multiple ownership. There is no other sport that allows the kind of access that ownership offers and allows fans to get fully immersed in a sport that they love”.

Cantillon sees one area of potential improvement.

“I think we as an industry should invest in a comprehensive customer relationship management system for our owners. We should take advantage of affordable technology available to improve owner experience tenfold. Send a special deal to owners on their birthday, invite them back to the anniversary of their winner last year, issue tickets digitally so there’s no mix-ups at the gate. It’s simple stuff but makes a huge difference”.

FRANCE

Syndicates are known as ecurie de groupe in France, which translates directly to racing stables but are generally known as racing clubs. They are not to be confused with the experiential model of racing clubs in Britain and Ireland and which do not exist in France.

Neither are there any micro share companies, though there have been some initial discussions with MyRacehorse.

“It is certainly an interesting model, one which is full of potential in France,” outgoing managing director of France Galop, Olivier Delloye tells us.

There are 44 syndicates in operation in France, and that figure—while low and down on the 72 recorded in 2014—will increase “in the coming months” according to France Galop’s marketing and ownership development manager, Raphaël Naquet. Ecurie Team Spirit, Shamrock Racing, Ecurie Vivaldi, Ecurie Brillantissime, and High Heels Racing Stable are among the flourishing factions; and there are links to several syndicates on the France Galop website.

As Jack Cantillon touched on, the process of registering a syndicate is more arduous in France than elsewhere. Irish native Timmy Love, who is a colleague of Naquet’s in the ownership development wing of France Galop, concedes that point but insists that this is due to the law of the land rather than the racing regulator.

“Setting up a racing club is probably slightly more bureaucratically heavy than what it would be in Ireland or in England, but that’s just the nature of the French system”, Love asserts. “It’s not a reflection on France Galop. It’s just in France (by law); there is quite a rigorous administration system. It’s quite demanding, but it’s to protect the people already within the sport or those trying to come into it.

“It’s by no means rocket science to get set up over here. Once you get all your different documentation together, it’s no more difficult than anywhere else. You just need slightly more documents in the first place”.

The syndicates must be registered as a company, and that means articles of association, declarations of the company, certificates of incorporation are required to establish the company’s eligibility. Once that is done, the usual proof of identification for the agent running the syndicate is required.

Every member of an ecurie de groupe has an owner’s card that entitles them to the exact same benefits as a sole owner. These include being allowed to bring four guests to every meeting at all the France Galop racecourses, with no exclusions. Being able to do that on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day is a phenomenally attractive perk as a syndicate member. 

The provincial tracks are not bound by general rule as regards to how many people are allowed to attend per owner card or runner, but according to Love, they are generally very hospitable.

“For example, I know Middleham Park (Racing) had a winner in Cagnes-Sur-Mer over the winter (Brave Emperor), and the racecourse was very good to the members of that syndicate that travelled over. That is just to give one example, but there are lots of country tracks that look after their owners extremely well”.

France Galop is considering being more proactive in going out into the marketplace to sell the benefits of syndicates as an ownership option. 

“We can see more and more shared ownership is more attractive. It makes the sport more accessible, so it’s certainly something we’re considering; and now we have a good base of racing clubs that are well set up and having a bit of success. It’s becoming an easier product to market”,

French trainers are not as enamoured with shared ownership as their British and Irish counterparts, however, as illustrated by Hélène Hatchiguian of the Association des Entraîneurs de Galop, the French trainers’ association.

“We have more and more owner agreements, but mainly for shared ownership, because having a racehorse is a cost. The consequence is that we have less horses in training,” Hatchiguian observes.

“For a trainer, it is easier and better to have one owner per horse, but now we have less of these owners and more shared ownership. It represents more work for the trainer, and more time (to communicate, for invoicing etc.). If trainers do not have time for it, they need to employ someone to do this job.

“When some shared owners do not pay their training fees, we can appeal to France Galop, the horse cannot run, and it is penalising other owners. In the future, it will be necessary to change the rules: if one or more shared owner does not pay, the horse can still run but the money won by the horse is not paid to the owner but to the trainer’s account”.

GERMANY

Christian von der Recke is cut from the same cloth as George Baker. Land and sea borders are no impediment to the multiple-champion jumps trainer travelling and running horses.

He says running a proper syndicate is difficult in Germany and points us in the direction of Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten. A former sports agent (with Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber among his clients), now breeder and board member of Deutscher Galopp, Baumgartner founded Liberty Racing with his wife Nadine and realised a lifetime ambition when Fantastic Moon won the Deutsches Derby in Liberty silks.

Members are glorying in the anticipation of a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup and/or the Japan Cup at present – wherever there is good ground - after the Sarah Steinberg-trained son of Sea The Moon recorded a decisive victory in the Qatar Prix Niel. Some hefty offers came in for the German-bred colt after the romp at ParisLongchamp but they have been rejected by shareholders and he will continue to race for Liberty.

“I worked as a sports agent all over the world and was a lot of times in Australia and saw the syndicates there,” Baumgartner explains. “I decided to sell my company and do what I want—horses, poker, real estate, and coaching. I started breeding and was on the board of German Racing, and I saw the problem: less owners, less breeders.

“I started eight years ago with my partnership ownership, only with two or three friends. We had a lot of success together. Then I decided to make my three- or four-people ownership syndicate bigger and started in 2020, to bring all my owner and breeder know-how to bring more people to horses. That was in my mind, but also in my mind was to win bigger, not just to buy handicap horses for people. We wanted to buy stayers with stamina from good German families for the Classic races, the Derby, the Oaks, and the Leger. 

“The idea was that new people can dream and be part of the bigger races. That was the main vision for Liberty Racing. Nadine and I started with 12 shareholders and four horses. The next year, we had 22 shareholders in four horses and then 30 in five horses. This year we will buy 10 to 12 horses with 90 or 100 owners.

“It’s not easy with the German tax situation. We have a lot of law restrictions to bring money together. It’s not like in England and America. They have more share culture, but we did it. We created a good contract, and we have the okay from the government to do it, and so we started”.

Deutscher Galopp is very helpful, Baumgartner tells us, not least than when he brought 50 people to shout on Liberty Racing’s two Derby runners.

There are more racing clubs in Germany than syndicates, but Liberty Racing is a poster child for the latter model with its professionalism and specific departments to cater for acquisitions, financials, social media, and so on.

“German racing was a closed shop. We have to open it. At the moment, we have 1,800 horses in training. That’s not good. We have to find 1,000 new shareholders in horses, and then we find 100, 200 horses more for trainers to train”.

ITALY

Former top trainer and now flourishing bloodstock agent, Valfredo Valiani, is looking forward to attending all the major European sales in the coming weeks and months, but he won’t be buying for Italian syndicates.

“Italian people usually don’t like syndicates, and it’s something that never took off in Italy,” Valiani remarks. “When I used to train, I tried myself with a couple of friends to set up a few syndicates for a few horses. We had results with the horses. We went up to six partners. But Italians are pretty individual. We’re not used to doing syndicates in anything and especially in racehorses. 

“It’s not that easy to register a syndicate over here. You’re going to need all the papers for every single partner in the syndicate. So it’s really tough. And then, just the representative is allowed to get to the parade ring. 

“We need syndicates because Italian racing is not flying, especially in quality; and when you get a few people together, of course you have more money to spend and more power, and you can look for better horses.

“We do have one syndicate, which is named Equos. It’s very public because it belongs to somebody that runs the only racing paper in Italy. But nobody emulated that, so far at least. Italians are proud to be THE owner, and they don’t feel like being ONE of the owners. There are horses in partnership, but it’s not the norm.”

SCANDINAVIA

Norway does have company-regulated syndicates, but there are some operating on a private level.

“The main reason is that Norwegian rules and regulations do not allow ownership of racehorses to be defined as a business,” says Marianne Ek of the Norwegian Jockey Club. “It has to be taxed as private. This means that there are no incentives for companies to offer this service.

“The industry is constantly working towards our politicians to try to change this, but no luck so far.

“This does not mean that we don’t have syndicates and shared ownerships, but they are set up either by the owners themselves or the trainers.”

In Sweden and Denmark, syndicates are allowed to trade as businesses. Also, there are some companies that specialise in putting syndicates together and running them for a fee. 

CONCLUSION

As noted at the start, this is by no means a thorough investigation of shared ownership from the perspective of all stakeholders in all regions—lengthy and all as it is.

It is evident though that while some jurisdictions are more open to shared ownership than others, for a variety of reasons, there is a growing acknowledgement that for trainers, and thus the industry, the model has far more upside than any perceived negative once all stakeholders are protected by watertight regulation and rigorous oversight.

Make it as easy as possible, and make it attractive. After that, the smiles will go miles.

Have horse will travel - incentives to race in 2023

Article by Lissa Oliver

Fitness is one thing, but placing horses in suitable races to provide the best opportunity for them is quite possibly the trickiest part of a trainer’s role. It can be hard enough to search our own racing calendar for suitable races, and yet, delving further into international calendars could well pay dividends, if not in prize money then in adding valuable black type. Despite problems with travel, the racing world grows ever smaller, and it can certainly pay to shop around and look further afield. Many racecourses will offer travel incentives to encourage international participation, and the VIP experience for visiting owners will provide a lasting memory. 

France

Close to home and a regular destination for most European trainers, prize money in France rose to €278 million last year, up on 2021 by €30 million (+12%) and on 2019 by €20 million (7.75%). The 2023 France Galop budget includes a €10 million increase in prize money, with an objective to stimulate the number of young horses in training in France. 

As a result, 19 races at Parisian racecourses will see their total prize money raised to €50,000, paid out to the first seven finishers. The winner will earn €25,000, increased by 80% for two-year-olds if the winner is eligible for the owner's premium. The total sum of earnings to the winner could be €45,000. The selected 19 races take place throughout the year and include various distances. France Galop describes them as the most sought-after and competitive events for unraced horses in the French programme, with a consistent track record of producing a number of Group horses.

In the French provinces, two races for unraced horses have been selected to be included in this scheme. They are the Prix du Four à Chaux and the Prix Didier Vezia, which will be run in September at Bordeaux. Each race will offer a total prize money of €35,000; and the winner will earn €31,500 if eligible for the owner's premium. 

The increase in prize money has also been spread throughout maiden races, and races for unraced horses, across all of France. 

The new Arqana Series is also of interest to those racing in France - the sales company offering a series of races worth €1.2m (£1.06m), open only to the yearlings and foals offered at Arqana Sales in 2022 and the two-year-olds offered at the forthcoming Arqana May Breeze Up. The Arqana Series will consist of five races, for two-year-olds and three-year-olds (the latter run in 2024) on a Thursday evening during the prestigious Deauville meeting and on the Saturday of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend. Each race of the Arqana Series will reward both owners and vendors.

The juvenile races at Deauville will be run over 1400m (7f) for unraced horses and 1200m (6f) conditions, with a 2000m (10f) race in 2024 for three-year-olds. At ParisLongchamp, the two-year-old race will be a conditions race over 1600m (8f).

Of course, all races in France already carry a lucrative system of owners’ premiums on top of prize money. Two-year-olds and three-year-olds win an additional 80%, four and five-year-olds win an additional 55%, and six-year-olds and up receive an additional 45%. An additional 35% is paid to winners of Gp.1 races, whatever their age.

Germany

Deutsches Derby

Germany is still not yet back to the level of pre-Covid 2019, but significantly more prize money and bonuses were paid out in 2022 than in 2021 [€12.39m (£10.95m)], which will rise to €13m (£11.47m) in 2023. An increase of €2.15m (£1.90m) was recorded in prize money, and the average race value is higher than in previous years at €12,039/£10,651. The Deutsches Derby 2023 will be worth €650,000/£574,967, the Preis der Diana €500,000/£442,290, and the Grosser Preis von Baden worth €400,000/£ 353,985.

At smaller German tracks, the Harzburg meeting, 22–30 July, has significantly increased prize money for 2023, and the showcase handicaps carry €17,500/£15,475. The highlight of the meeting is the BBAG Auction Race worth €37,000/£32,683. "We want to support basic racing in particular," explains Racing Club President Stephan Ahrens, "because the costs of keeping horses have risen enormously. That is why we have increased the race values by up to 25%.” 

Scandinavia

Further afield for some, the full potential of Scandinavia has yet to be tapped, particularly the prize money on offer at Bro Park in Sweden. Bro Park covers 500 acres and has permanent stabling and training facilities, able to accommodate a further 100 horses on race days. The facilities provide the best possible environment for horses and those working with them. It is just over 30 minutes from the centre of Stockholm by car and a similar distance from Arlanda Airport.

Bro Park

Foreign raiders might be tempted by Sweden’s major race, the 2400m (12f) Gr3 Stockholm Cup for three-year-olds and up, at Bro Park on Sunday, 17 September—worth €125,825/£111,103. Earlier, on 11 June at Bro Park is the Gp.3 Stockholm Stora Pris, 1750m (8 1/2f) for three-year-olds and up— worth €89,882/£79,357. The Stockholm Cup card includes Sweden's most important two-year-old race, the 1400m (7f) Appel Au Maitre Svealandlöpning—worth €23,108/£20,424—and won by British trainer Archie Watson last year, who completed a double on the day.

On dirt, for three-year-olds and up, Jägersro hosts the 1750m (8 1/2f) Listed Pramms Memorial—worth €89,882/£79,357—21 May; the 2400m (12f) Svensk Derby—worth €223,869/£197,629,—16 July; and the €71,925/£63,509 Zawawi Cup over 1200m (6f), 16 July. Both Bro Park and Jägersro offer plenty of other opportunities at distances of 1200m (6f) up to 2400m (12f) with values ranging from €26,971/£23,809 up to €59,339/£52,386. 

In Norway, the 2400m (12f) Norsk Derby at Ovrevoll 20 August has a total value of €108,662/£96,067; and the 2400m (12f) Gp.3 Oslo Cup 15 June is worth €23,721/£20,973 to the winner. On 21 August, the Gp.3 Marit Sveaas Minnelop is run at Ovrevoll over 1800m (9f), carrying a first prize of €66,406/£58,724.

Let’s not forget Denmark, where the Gp.3 Scandinavian Open Championship for three-year-olds and up, over 2400m (12f) at Klampenborg on 27 May, is worth €57,545/£50,903, and a first prize of €31,967/£28,280. 

Spain

While there may not be high levels of prize money to chase on a regular basis in Spain, it is worth noting the major prizes in the Spanish calendar. The Listed Gran Premio de Madrid over 2500m (12 1/2f) at the end of June, for three-year-olds and up, is the major summer highlight, worth €68,000/£60,068 (€40,000/£35,330 to the winner; €16,000/£14,132 to the second; €8,000/£7,065 to the third; and €4,000/£3,532 to the fourth). 

In 2023, it will be run on Saturday, 24 June and is supported on the card by the Premio Baldoria for three-year-olds and older fillies and mares: over 1600m (8f), worth €15,000/£13,247 to the winner; €6,000/£5,299 to the second; €3,000/£2,649 to the third; and €1,500/£1,324 to the fourth.

August at San Sebastián sees the 1500m (7 1/2f) Premio Santander Cup (Criterium International) for two-year-olds, with prize money of €40,800/£36,018. The €59,500/£52,532 Gran Premio Copa De Oro De San Sebastián, over 2400m for three-year-olds and up, is the meeting highlight, worth €35,000/£30,900 to the winner; in addition to an impressive gold cup, €14,000/£12,360 goes to the second, €7,000/£6,180 to the third and €3,500/£3,090 to the fourth. On the supporting card is the Gran Premio Turismo Gobierno Vasco, 1600m (8f) for three-year-olds and up with a total prize of €40,800/£36,018. 

On Sunday, 15 October, the highlight of the Spanish season will be Champions Day, with a card that includes the Gran Premio Memorial Duque de Toledo over 2400m (12f) for three-year-olds and up, with a value of €68,000/£60,068 (€40,000/£35,330 to the winner, €16,000/£14,132 to the second, €8,000/£7,065 to the third and €4,000/£3,532 to the fourth). Also run on the day is the Gran Premio Ruban over 1200m (6f) worth €40,800/£36,018, with the winner taking home €24,000/£21,191, down to €2,400/£2,119 for fourth. A strong supporting card boasts lucrative added premiums of €5,000 for Spanish-breds.

Belgium

There are also opportunities for an average rated horse closer to home for some, in Belgium. As in Spain, the prize money might not be eye-catching, but neither is the competitiveness in comparison to similar races at home. The showpiece is the Prix Prince Rose, a National Listed Race over 2100m (10 1/2f) run at Ostend on Monday, 7 August with total prize money of €12,800/£11,304, with €8,000/£7,065 to the winner. The Prix Prince Rose is open to three-year-olds and older who have never been placed in the first five of a Pattern race. 
Ostend also hosts three interesting conditions races in July and August: the Miler Cup, 1600m (8f); the Prijs Half Oogst and BFG Galop, 1800m (9f); and the Prijs BFG and Nymphenburger, 2200m (11f)—each with a total prize money of €8,000/£7,065, with €5,000/£4,416 for the winner. They are for four-year-olds and older without a handicap value or a value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs). Penalties for prize money received for wins and places since 1 July 2023 are 1kg per €1,000. There is also the UAE Sprint Cup Handicap over 1000m (5f) in August for four-year-olds and older with a handicap value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs). See the complete list of races and conditions here: www.bgalopf.be/Meetings.htm

Britain

In Britain, the BHA, Darley and Juddmonte have come together to sponsor a high-value developmental races series of 60 races, also supported in funding by host racecourses, offering increased prize money to horses at the start of their career. As with the French developmental programme, the hope is that they will be retained to race in Britain going forward. The BHA hopes to expand on the idea of increasing the values of Flat maidens and novice races in 2024 and long-term. 

There will be 20 two-year-old restricted maiden and novice races worth €33,975/£30,000, supported by Juddmonte; 21 two-year-old open maiden and novice races worth €33,975/£30,000, supported by the BHA Development Fund; and 22 three-year-old and up open maiden and novice races worth €33,975–€56,626 (£30,000–£50,000), supported by Darley and the BHA Development Fund. The €56,626/£50,000 races will be run over longer distances to support middle-distance and staying horses.

Elsewhere in Britain, Newbury, having been infamously boycotted by trainers for one of its flat races last year, will see a 16% prize money increase this year, taking overall levels at the track to just over €6.79m/£6m. Newbury will host six novice and maiden races during the Flat season with prize money of €33,975 up to €56,626 (£30,000–£50,000).

The Racing League also returns for 2023, in which seven teams compete in 42 races over six meetings for over €2.2m/£2m prize money. The meetings for 2023 are Yarmouth 27 July, Chepstow 10 August, Windsor 17 August, Newcastle 31 August, Wolverhampton 7 September and Southwell 13 September. All races are handicaps with a range of ratings bands and distances, with normal BHA distribution for race prize money.

As with Arqana, British racing is boosted by the sponsorship of sales company Tattersalls, targeting yearlings purchased at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, who will be eligible for the 1200m (6f) €112,826/£100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes run at Newmarket 26 August, as well as the 1200m (6f) €169,242/£150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes, Newmarket 5 October.

Charlie Appleby-trained Regal Honour broke his maiden in the 2022 Stephen Rowley Remembered Novice Stakes at Newmarket to collect the 312th £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus.

The Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes, 1200m (6f) on 24 August at York carries a guaranteed minimum value of €394,092/£350,000, for two-years-olds sold at the 2022 Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale.

Tattersalls also offer the €22,684/£20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme for 2023. Participating owners will receive a €22,684/£20,000 bonus if their 2022 October Book 1 purchase wins a Class 2, 3 or 4 two-year-old maiden or novice race in Britain between 1 April and 11 November 2023, or any 'Open' two-year-old maiden run in Ireland between 25 March and 5 November 2023. The cost to enter the €22,684/£20,000 Tattersalls October ‘Book 1 Bonus’ Scheme is €1,928/£1,700, and there are over 300 qualifying British and Irish two-year-old maiden and novice races. All yearlings sold, bought in or failing to meet their reserve at Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are eligible.

Ireland 

Tattersalls are also major sponsors in Ireland, with the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes of €300,000/£265,889, worth €150,000/£132,942 to the winner and prize money of at least €5,000/£4,431 down to 10th. Over 1200m (6f) at the Curragh, it is of course limited to those yearlings sold at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale in November 2022.

Tattersalls also continues to support the first two Irish Classics and Gp.1 Tattersalls Gold, as well as enhanced owners’ and trainers’ facilities at the Curragh. The Irish 1000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas will each have prize money of €500,000/£443,081, while the Tattersalls Gold Cup will increase in value to €450,000/£398,754.

Goffs also continue to be major sponsors in Ireland, supporting premier National Hunt and Flat races. The Goffs Sportsman Challenge Day at Naas, 14 September 2023, will be a mid-week all juvenile card featuring the 1200m (6f) €100,000/£88,653 Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge, a two-year-old race exclusive to yearlings purchased at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale. Prize money also goes to the first 10 finishers.

Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the 1400m (7f) Goffs Million, run at the Curragh 23 September 2023, is for graduates of the Goffs Orby Sale (2022)  and is worth €500,000/£443,081 to the winner, down to €10,000/£8,869 for 10th.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) saw a number of restorations to prize money levels last year and an increase in funding for the IRE Incentive Scheme for breeders, which grew from €1.1m (£0.97m) paid out in 2021 as vouchers to be spent on Irish-bred horses at Irish sales, to €1.3m (£1.14m) last year. It will again provide €1.3m (£1.14m) in vouchers for 2023.

HRI’s commitment to ensuring the quality of racing is also extended to grassroots level, with a targeted increase of €1.7m (£1.5m) to prize money levels, bringing 2023 to €68.6m (+2.5%) (£60.58m).

“Prize money is a key enabler in building and maintaining the number of quality horses in training in Ireland,” says Suzanne Eade, chief executive of HRI. “Approximately 70% of horses competing [in Ireland] receive some prize money, so it is important that we prioritise its growth…in order to sustain the significant rural jobs created by the industry.” 

European Breeders’ Fund

Throughout Europe, the European Breeders Fund (EBF), with national representation in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, continues to be one of the largest sponsors of races. Only the progeny of EBF registered stallions and horses nominated to the EBF can enter these races, but of course they are free to run in any EBF race throughout Europe.

The European Breeders’ Fund celebrates its 40 th year of operation in 2023 and in that time has contributed over €130m to prize money throughout Europe. The emphasis is on the two-year-old programme and fillies races, and there are valuable opportunities to be found. The EBF regularly reviews where the funds are best directed and is a vital support to both racing and bloodstock industries.

Highlights of the EBF support in 2023:

Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes €200,000 minimum at Naas, August

British EBF 2yo series £100,000 finals at Goodwood and York, September and October

Criterium FEE €130,000 Deauville, August

Italy is recovering from difficult times and this season there will be four EBF-sponsored races with an added €2,000/£1,766 to the winner if EBF qualified.

In France, the EBF (FEE) will pay out over €1m into prize money, with over €200,000 in premiums for fillies Listed Races, and over €500,000 for two and three-year-old maidens, debutants and conditions races in both Paris and the regions.

The British EBF will in 2023 invest around €2.27m (£2m) for both Flat and National Hunt and the Irish EBF current investment has increased from €2.6m (£2.25m) to €2.7m (£2.38m), making Irish Stallion Farms EBF the largest sponsor of racing in Ireland. This year all Listed Fillies races in Ireland will be sponsored by Irish EBF and will run for a minimum of €50,000/£44,000 and all other Listed races will run for a minimum of €40,000/£35,000. Highlights include the 26-race Median Sires Series, each worth a minimum €25,000/£22,000, for horses by a sire with a median fee of €75,000/£66,045 or less. The €200,000/£177,506 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes has the same conditions and is the showcase, run over 1000m (5f) at Naas 7 August. The 24-race Irish EBF Auction Series for two-year-olds worth a minimum €20,000/£17,750 each has two finals, worth €120,000/£10,5672. Horses must have been bought at auction for €72,000/£63,403 or less.

*Euros converted to sterling at XE rate 03/03/2023

News from the European Mediterranean Horseracing Federation 2019 General Assembly

By Paull Khan, PhD.

To many, Norway is the land of the midnight sun or that of the Northern Lights. But to the race-fan, these meteorological mysteries are incidental—Norway is, first and foremost, home to that enigma, the Whip-less Race.

This year, the EMHF’s General Assembly ‘roadshow’ returned to Scandinavia, where the Norwegian Jockey Club hosted our meeting at the country’s sole thoroughbred racetrack, Ovrevoll, after which delegates were privileged to experience the joyous and colourful processions of Norway’s Constitution Day and also witness firsthand the running of a full card without crops—of which more later.

Our meeting broke fresh ground in a number of ways. For the first time, the press was represented, and a number of commercial enterprises (Flair - manufacturers of Nasal Strips, RASLAB - international distributors of racing data and rights, and Equine Medirecord, who supply veterinary compliance software) joined the social programme and mingled with the administrators. The number of presentations was also increased, from which it was made apparent to everyone, if we did not know it before, that the range of threats we face as a sport is diverse indeed. 

Illegal Betting

Amongst these threats is one which to date has had far greater impact in Asia, but whose tentacles are increasingly taking Europe into their grasp. The enemy is illegal betting, on which Brant Dunshea, Chief Regulatory Officer of British Horseracing Authority, gave a presentation. Recently co-opted to bring a European perspective to a task-force set up by the EMHF’s equivalent in Asia—the Asian Racing Federation—Dunshea was shocked at the sheer size of the problem.

Defining ‘illegal betting’ as including betting which takes place in an unregulated environment, (e.g., an off-shore operation which was contributing nothing to the sport and was under the regulatory control of neither government nor racing authority), he presented figures which showed that illegal betting in six Asian countries—predominantly using the betting exchange model—was vast in scale; was increasing faster than its legal equivalent; was funding criminal activities including through money laundering; attracted disproportionately higher rates of problem gambling; was poorly understood by governments and racing authorities and was presenting new challenges for regulators in relation to dealing with race corruption. A decrease in the number of suspicious betting investigations on British betting exchanges had been experienced. It now seemed likely that some of this activity had simply shifted to the illegal and unregulated markets.

This is an issue that Europe cannot afford to ignore. The British Horseracing Authority has committed to replicate the Asian research which will seek to quantify the scale of betting on British racing across illegal and unregulated platforms; and Dunshea took the opportunity to seek other volunteers from other EMHF countries to join in this effort. The task-force aims to produce a plan of best practice to identify and tackle this problem for the use of racing authorities.

Liv Kristiansen, Racing Director of the Norwegian Jockey Club, has been elected to the EMHF's Executive Council.

Dunshea pointed to the salutary conclusion that increasing regulation and taxation of the legal market was not necessarily the answer to the problem and risked the unintended consequence of causing punters to migrate to illegal markets, with their lower margins and (for many countries) a wider and more attractive range of available betting options. Key in the battle will be to engage governments in this discussion, ensure their understanding of the scale of the problem and the interconnectivity between policies in regard to legal betting and the propensity to bet through illegal channels, and try to find a balanced tax burden, alongside sufficient laws and law enforcement effort, to snuff out this noxious menace.

Gene Doping

Gene doping is no longer something from the realms of science fiction but is practiced today. Simon Cooper, co-chair of the European and African Stud Book Committee explained: “DNA can be inserted, substituted, deleted any number of ways—a bit like cut-and-paste on your computer. Gene editing kits can be bought on the internet”. He gave a salutary example of its potential effects. “Mice normally will run for about 800 metres before they’ve had enough. After some mice were injected, in an experiment in Australia, with the stamina protein PEPCK, and genetically manipulated, they ran six kilometres”. The potential to inflict great damage on the sport of horseracing is obvious, and we should be grateful that the state of vigilance among the international racing and breeding authorities is high, with excellent work particularly being carried out in Japan as well as Australia. There is no evidence of nefarious gene doping of racehorses to date—and indeed no belief that it has—but part of the problem is that we cannot say unequivocally that it has not happened, because there is as yet no test to determine whether or not a horse has been subjected to this technique. This is the main focus of research, which will, if and once successful, be made available to Stud Books, as gatekeepers of the breed and racing authorities around the world. “Once DNA is changed, those changes are passed on”, added Cooper, so the more time that passes before detection, the greater the problem. Prevention, rather than retrospective identification, must therefore be the aim. It is believed that the most likely point at which genetic engineering would be carried out on a horse would be between conception and birth. A takeaway message from Cooper was that the racing world should shout loudly and clearly that its authorities have anticipated, and are prepared for, gene doping. Making those who would seek to cheat aware of this fact should, in and of itself, dissuade them from so doing and thereby reduce the risks of this nightmare ever becoming a reality. 

Jockeys’ Mental Health…

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The FEI prohibited list and what it means for racing

By Alysen Miller

The eighth World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina were not, it is perhaps fair to say, an unbridled success. From unfinished facilities to misspelt signage and, most catastrophically, an entire endurance race that had to be aborted after riders were sent in the wrong direction, the competition generated so much negative coverage that the future of the Games themselves, already in some doubt, now appears to be hanging by a thread (At the time of writing, no formal bidders had thrown their hats into the ring for the 2022 renewal). So it might seem to be a strange time to ask if horseracing has anything to learn from the Fédération Équestre International (FEI). And yet, there is one area in which the FEI is arguably setting an example.

Unlike the global racing industry, which operates under myriad rules and regulations between different countries (and sometimes within the same country), all 134 affiliated nations of the FEI operate under a single set of rules. This includes a single Prohibited Substances Policy to which all jurisdictions must adhere; meaning that a horse trained in Australia is subject to exactly the same medical requirements, including regulations governing banned substances and threshold limits, as a horse trained in, say, America. This stands in stark contrast to the thoroughbred industry. Despite being an increasingly global game, from the now-traditional annual American invasion of Royal Ascot to the recent domination of the Melbourne Cup by European-trained horses, racing can appear positively parochial when it comes to its attitudes towards prohibited substances. “If you compare horseracing to other sports, we have one of the sole sports where there are no equal regulations on the highest level,” elucidates Germany’s Peter Schiergen. “To have [the same] regulations and policies around the world would be a good action for horse racing.”

So what are the factors standing in the way of global harmonisation, and would there ever be a case for following the FEI’s lead and adopting a single set of rules that would apply to horseracing authorities the world over?

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Laboratory sample analysis

The FEI’s approach is to divide prohibited substances into two categories: banned substances (that is, substances that are deemed by the FEI to have no legitimate use in competition and/or have a high potential for abuse, including all anabolic steroids and their esters), which are not permitted at any time; and controlled medication (substances that are deemed to have a therapeutic value and/or are commonly used in equine medicine), which are not permitted for use during competition but may be used at other times. These categorisations apply to all national and international competitions, with each national federation being subject to the FEI’s regulations. Testing at competitions is carried out by the FEI’s own veterinary department, while elective out-of-competition testing is also available so that those responsible for the horse can ensure that they allow the appropriate withdrawal times for therapeutic medications. So just how effective are these rules at keeping prohibited substances out of the sport and ensuring a level playing field? Clearly, no system is perfect. The FEI has had its fair share of doping scandals, particularly in the endurance discipline, where stamina, which can be easily enhanced with the aid of pharmacology, is of paramount importance. The FEI, who declined to be interviewed for this article, said in a statement: “Clean sport is an absolute must for the FEI and it is clear that we, like all International Federations, need to continue to work to get the message across that clean sport and a level playing field are non-negotiable. All athletes and National Federations know that regardless of where in the world they compete the rules are the same.” Yet having a global policy does appear to offer a strategic advantage to those seeking to create a level playing field, not only through the creation of economies of scale (the FEI oversees laboratories around the world, and all results are all handled at the federation’s headquarters in Lausanne), but also by creating a framework for cheats to be exiled from all competitions, rather than just one country’s.

While harmonisation and cross-border cooperation does exist in racing, particularly within Europe and individual race meetings—notably the recent Breeders’ Cup—have taken it upon themselves to enact their own programme of pre- and post-race testing, effectively creating their own anti-doping ecosystem; the fact remains that racing lacks an overarching prohibited substances policy. Codes and customs vary widely from—at one end of the spectrum—Germany, which does not allow any colt that has run on declared medication to stand at stud; to North America, where, Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, whose trainer admitted that he gave the colt a monthly dose of the anabolic steroid, stanozolol, is still active at stud. Stanozolol is the same drug that the Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive for in 1988, causing him to be stripped of his gold medal in the Seoul Olympics. Although the industry subsequently moved to outlaw the drug for use on horses in training, anabolic steroids are still routinely used as an out-of-competition treatment in a number of states.

“I don’t think the playing field is level,” says Mark Johnston, with typical candour. “Control of anabolic steroids is very important if you want a level playing field. Because there’s no doubt whatsoever that there are advantages to using them.”

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