IRISH racing and breeding organisations are keeping an open mind on enhancing two major bonus schemes open to racehorse owners following reports that a rival scheme in Britain is starting to have an impact on the behaviour of owners and breeders in the United Kingdom.

There is anecdotal evidence that an increasing number of breeders in Northern Ireland are registering their fillies as ‘GB’ in order to make them eligible for the lucrative Great British Bonus [GBB] scheme.

The GBB covers 500 races in Britain this year for fillies and mares-only which offer the opportunity to win a bonus of £20,000. Breeders receive a split of the prize fund, earning up to £4,000 in bonuses for each race won. The bonuses work on a sliding scale, depending on whether the filly is “100%” British-bred or simply foaled in Britain.

British-bred fillies by a stallion based in Britain at the time of covering can win bonuses of up to £20,000 per race; a 50% bonus is payable if the filly is by a stallion who stood outside Britain at the time of covering.

Provided all registration deadlines are met, bonuses are paid out 65% to the racing owner; 20% to the breeder; 7.5% to the trainer; 5% to the jockey; 2.5% to stable staff.

Launched in June 2020, it has distributed more than £16 million to-date and last month it was confirmed that the scheme is to be extended into 2025 and will offer additional incentives to breed, buy and race British-bred middle-distance and staying-bred fillies, and chasing mares.

Northern Ireland breeders have traditionally registered thoroughbreds with Weatherbys Ireland and they have raced with the IRE suffix. But those who live in the six counties retain the right to register their horses as British-bred and there are unconfirmed reports that more breeders are choosing that option this year.

The popularity of the scheme could also prove a factor at bloodstock sales with British buyers possibly favouring British-bred stock.

Irish racing has two major bonus schemes. The IRE Incentive Scheme was launched in 2021 by Horse Racing Ireland. It awards a bonus of €10,000 to owners of Irish-bred winners of selected races across the flat and National Hunt programmes in Ireland and Britain.

The owners of each eligible winner – those carrying the IRE suffix and Foal Levy compliant – have until the end of the following year to spend their bonus on Irish-breds at Irish sales.

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association National Hunt Fillies’ Scheme was established in 2013 and has paid out over €3 million to-date. Sponsored by Weatherbys and supported by HRI, the scheme pays out a bonus of €5,000 to any eligible filly (it costs €300 to register a filly) who win their mares’ only maiden bumper, maiden hurdle and beginners’ chase. Each filly has the opportunity to win €15,000 without deduction in bonuses and, starting this year, Irish-bred fillies earn €7,500 for their first bonus race win.

The Irish Field understands that there are plans to only allow Irish-bred fillies register for this scheme from now on.

Charles O’Neill, chief executive of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, says the IRE Incentive has been “very successful” so far. “Our research indicates it has a multiplier effect of eight to one. That is to say that owners who win a €10,000 voucher spend another €80,000 with it on average.”

Asked if the GBB is having an impact on sales behaviour, O’Neill said: “We are watching it and we will review our own one at the end of this year and see where we stand. We will work with the ITBA and HRI on this.”

To register a foal for GBB costs £250 for Thoroughbred Breeder Association members and £450 for non-members. Yearling registration is £250 and owner registration is £450.

By comparison, there is no registration fee for the IRE Incentive - only the Foal Levy must be paid.

The ITBA NH Fillies’ Scheme has a one-off €300 registration fee and 100% of the bonus is paid to the owner.

Enhanced scheme

The Horserace Betting Levy Board has been the majority funder of the GBB since its inception. HBLB provide £3.5m to the current scheme, and this funding will be increased by an additional £1.2m to support GBBPLUS which aims to “further encourage a different behaviour in respect of breeding, buying, and racing middle-distance horses”.

Over jumps British-bred mares can earn bonuses of up to £30,000 for winning class 1-4 chases.