THE Irish European Breeders’ Fund, Irish racing’s largest sponsor, who are funded by Irish stallion farms, have announced a new record high sponsorship of €3 million for 2024.

This brings the overall contribution to over €60 million since the foundation of the Irish European Breeders’ Fund in 1983. The spend will encompass nearly 500 races, both flat and National Hunt, that will carry EBF conditions throughout the year.

The considerable spend of €3 million has enabled the creation of the €330,000 three-year-old Spring Series with the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic as its showpiece.

It has also allowed the Irish EBF to underwrite all two-year-old EBF maiden races with €18,000 of minimum prize money and all EBF maiden hurdles and beginners chases with a €15,000 minimum prize fund.

This complements the 2023 announcement where all listed races are a minimum of €40,000 and all fillies’ listed races are worth a minimum of €50,000.

The successful Irish EBF Auction Series and the Median Sires Series continue with €1.7 million of prize money on offer for two-year-olds including two big race targets in the €120,000 Irish EBF Auction Series Final and the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes.

National Hunt support continues with about 50% of the National Hunt allocation targeted at mares’ chases, hurdle and bumper races. Irish EBF are also proud to continue support of the popular Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series, worth nearly €400,000 with 16 qualifying races and a €75,000 final at the Punchestown Festival which is backed up by the Irish EBF Auction Bumper Series with six races worth €15,000 each over the season.

Record high contribution

Joe Foley, Irish EBF chairman, said; “The Irish EBF governors are delighted to announce another record contribution to Irish prize money for the 2024 racing year. This will allow us to continue our normal sponsorship programme spanning almost 500 races but also to add extra support in many areas.

“All Irish EBF two-year-old maidens carrying a minimum €18,000 prizemoney is a significant achievement but other areas such as listed races, maiden hurdles, beginners chases and the exciting new three-year-old Spring Series which culminates in the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms Gowran Classic, will benefit from our increased spend.

“We look forward to seeing the three-year-old Spring Series for middle distance horses grow and develop and hope that it becomes as successful and popular as our two-year-old series; the Irish EBF Auction Series and the Irish EBF Median Sires Series.

“As ever, this record contribution would not be possible without the unanimous support and funding from Irish stallion owners, so immense thanks is due to them.”

Jonathan Mullin, Horse Racing Ireland’s director of racing, commented; “The Irish EBF has long been the largest sponsor of Irish racing and HRI is hugely appreciative of their long-standing investment, which is underpinned by voluntary contributions from stallion farms all over Ireland.

“The commitment of €3 million towards prize money includes a key project in 2024: the first year of targeted support for later developing middle distance horses. This initiative is the latest in over 40 years of dedicated support from the EBF and for that we thank them sincerely.”