MULTIPLE Group 1-winning trainer Paddy Twomey has encouraged more racecourses to follow the Curragh’s lead by boosting prize money levels in Ireland, with the Co Kildare track having introduced a €20,000 minimum purse for each race there in 2024.

There has been dialogue from several leading trainers, and the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, in recent weeks on how Ireland cannot afford to rest on its laurels when it comes to ensuring strong levels of prize money. Leopardstown has taken the Curragh’s lead in raising its minimum purse level to €15,000.

Johnny Murtagh was among those to weigh in passionately on the topic in Thoroughbred Daily News, insisting there should be a €100,000 race every week in Ireland and highlighting the fact that this season’s Listed Devoy Stakes winner took home just €24,000 last month.

Twomey, speaking at a press event at his Golden, Co Tipperary stables this week, explained how he would like to see owners being rewarded for their investment in Irish racing.

“If you look at prize money levels comparatively to 10 years ago, I think we’ve lost a lot of ground,” said Twomey.

“I think in Ireland we’re quick to point the finger towards Britain and say their prize money is X, Y or Z, but we’re not a million miles behind them. We need a better structure in place to guarantee our funding going forward. If you look at the French system, the Pari mutuel system is very successful there and around the world. The World Pool obviously brings a lot of money into certain fixtures and certain tracks.

“While people don’t have horses in training for the purpose of prize money, it can be an expensive pastime to buy a horse, train a horse and so on. A certain level of prize money is important to offer people as a reward for what they’re doing.”

York Racecourse is a fine example of a track that is constantly attempting to improve its offerings for participants, according to Twomey.

“If you look at what William Derby has done there [as chief executive], I think it’s a credit to him,” said Twomey.

“He’s done a fabulous job at York. It’s very impressive when you have the Convivial Maiden run for £100,000 last year, and he has sent out correspondence since about further boosts to the track’s prize money this year. Year on year, there seems to be continuous improvement.”

He added: “I think what the Curragh have done this year with the €20,000 minimum purse is a very good thing and I think more tracks should, if they can, try to set some sort of a goal for improving what is on offer, through sponsorship or whatever other means. I know it’s a slightly different situation with the Curragh having most of the Group 1s in Ireland [compared to other tracks].”