Q: Why and when was this scheme introduced?

Plus 10 is a bonus scheme for British and Irish flat thoroughbred owners and breeders which pays €12,500 (£10,000) bonuses to qualified two and three-year-old winners of Plus 10 races. It was introduced in 2014, and this year €12,500 bonuses will be available on more than 550 two and three-year-old races, worth almost €7 million.

The bonus is shared between a horse’s registered owner who receives 75% of the bonus, with 10% each paid to the foal and yearling registrants – typically the breeder and in some cases pinhooker – with 5% paid to the trainer, jockey and stable staff.

By significantly enhancing prize money, Plus 10 is designed to incentivise owners to purchase Plus 10-registered yearlings and foals, and to race them on British and Irish tracks. It was also designed to unify previous bonus schemes, the Racing Post Yearling Bonus Scheme and the British BOBIS scheme, and also recognises the commercial and historic links of the Irish and British bloodstock industries.

Q: How is it funded and who organises it?

Plus 10 is funded by a combination of registration fees from owners and breeders, in addition to funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Goffs and Tattersalls.

The funds are collected and managed by Weatherbys, who also control the distribution of bonus prize money through Horse Racing Ireland. The scheme is managed by a team at the BHA, in conjunction with HRI.

q: What horses are eligible?

The progeny of Irish or British domiciled mares and stallions are eligible to be registered for Plus 10. There are then three registration stages which must be paid in order for a horse to be qualified to win an unlimited number of €12,500 bonuses.

In a new development, breeders (and pinhookers) of Plus 10 registered horses registered into Plus 10 to the Foal or Yearling Registration stages only, now win their respective share of the bonus, regardless of whether their horse has been qualified for the scheme.

The three registration stages are:

Foal registration: due by August 31st in the foal year, cost €187.50

Yearling registration: due by June 30th in the yearling year, cost €250

Owner registration: due by February 28th in the two-year-old year, cost €437.50 (€62.50 discount applies if paid by December 31st in the yearling year)

Buyers of Plus 10 registered horses sold at breeze-up sales are permitted to pay the owner registration during a two-week period from the date of purchase.

Each year, 100 Plus 10 bonuses are available in Ireland, applied to all two-year-old, non-blacktype races, rolling over across the year, until all are won. Unclaimed bonuses are then applied to three-year-old winners of maiden races from the beginning of the following season. This year, 26 three-year-old bonuses were carried over and all have now been won.

In the UK, Plus 10 Bonuses are applied to all Class 2, 3 and 4 maiden, novice and conditions races, and Class 5 fillies only’ maiden and novice races at a two-year-old level. For three-year-olds, bonuses are applied to all Class 2, 3 and 4 maiden and conditions races, and Class 5 fillies’ only races.

Q: Has it been well

supported?

Plus 10 has been very well supported by small and large breeders, owners and trainers, and year-on-year, the percentage of the foal crop registered with the scheme has grown. As familiarity and understanding of Plus 10 increases, we are seeing a marked focus from owners and trainers targeting Plus 10 races, which in turn offers huge benefit to breeders as sales horses with Plus 10 registration become a more attractive proposition for buyers, compared to those not registered for Plus 10. In Britain, there were also instances of courses upgrading races in order to qualify to host a Plus 10 bonus, showcasing the popularity of the scheme.

Q: Who has benefitted from the scheme?

(*Correct as of June 12th)

Q: Why should owners/breeders support it?

The nature of Plus 10 means that the benefits for breeders are two-fold. Plus 10 marks the first time in Ireland that breeders have been offered a bonus related to the racetrack success of their horses, and with Irish-bred horses winning a higher percentage of the bonus races across Britain and Ireland in 2015, and with a lower percentage of registered horses compared to British-bred registrations. This marks a huge opportunity for Irish breeders to gain significant financial reward for their breeding success.

At the sales, we are also seeing an increasing number of owners, agents and trainers targeting Plus 10 eligible horses, with Plus 10 registration a positive selection factor when choosing horses. We encourage breeders to consider Plus 10 registration as offering a positive sales advantage when selling.

For owners, winning a Plus 10 bonus race with a registered horse can in many cases treble the prize money on offer, and there is no limit on the number of bonus races a horse can win.

Trainers also receive a 5% share of the bonus and we have witnessed incredible support from trainers, who see the benefit not only for their stable, but also in encouraging new and existing owners if they target and win Plus 10 bonus races

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: 087 6755232

Web: plus10bonus.com