Irish EBF

Additional incentives for owners to accompany the new Irish EBF Academy Hurdles races, were announced by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) on Friday. Running from Sunday, October 12 through the end of December, the races will be sponsored by the Irish European Breeders' Fund and will be open to 3-year-old horses which have not had any previous run under either Rules of Racing or I.N.H.S. Rules other than in Academy Hurdle races. Firstly, an IRE Incentive-style sales voucher will go to the owners of any Irish-bred horse which wins or is...

The Irish EBF Barrier Trials are soon to return with three dates approved from May to August, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced on Wednesday. Naas will again host the first day on Monday, May 26 on the inside track over six and seven furlongs, with Dundalk staging the middle fixture on Monday, July 7. The final date is set for Leopardstown on Wednesday, August 27, again over six and seven furlongs. As in the past, each fixture will be restricted to named and unraced two-year-olds and three-year-olds with stalls certificates....

The 18-race Smullen Series, targeting middle-distance two- and three-year-olds, was announced by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF) on Tuesday evening. Alongside that announcement, a record €3.1 million will be contributed by the Irish EBF to Ireland's overall prize-money in 2025. The Irish EBF is Irish racing's largest sponsor and it is funded by Irish stallion farms. In addition, there are prize-money commitments of €150,000 to Irish EBF named races in the UK and for retired racehorses through Treo Eile, bringing the overall 2025 prize-money sponsorship amount to €3.25...

The Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF) has today been announced as the flagship sponsor of the new National Hunt Academy Hurdle Race Series, which will commence in October 2025 with the aim of encouraging National Hunt horses to enter training earlier. The races will be open to three-year-old horses who have not had any previous run on the Flat or under National Hunt Rules, other than in Academy Hurdle races. Winners of such races will still be qualified to run in bumpers and maiden hurdles in Ireland, guaranteeing these...

Entries are closing at noon on Thursday, July 4 for the next session of Irish EBF Barrier Trials. Operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by the Irish EBF and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), Trials are open to unraced two-year-olds and three-year-olds, with the next session due to take place at Dundalk Stadium on Monday, July 8. The Trials at Dundalk are run over five, six and seven furlongs. Trials are principally staged to meet the strong demand from overseas for quality unraced thoroughbreds out of Ireland,...

A total of €3 million will be added to the prize-money of Irish races in 2024 by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF), an all-time record high and bringing the Irish EBF's overall contribution since it was founded in 1983 to over €60 million. Almost 500 races, both Flat and National Hunt, will carry EBF conditions in 2024. A new addition to the calendar this year is the €330,000 3YO Spring Series, with the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic as its showpiece. The considerable spend of €3...

A new Spring Series of median sires races has been added to the Irish Flat racing calendar for 2024 and beyond in what is a significant boost to the three-year-old programme for middle-distance horses. In an announcement made by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF) and Gowran Park Racecourse on Monday, the Spring Series will conclude with the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic--the richest race ever held at Gowran Park--on Bank Holiday Monday, June 3. Three-year-olds with a median price of no more...

The Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final will highlight the Sunday card at Naas, the final Flat day of racing at the Irish Racecourse for 2023. Also on Sunday's card will be the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet S., the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell S., and the finale on Sunday, the Colm White Bookmaker November H., all part of an eight-race programme as the Irish EBF celebrates its 40th anniversary. A field of 13 juveniles will chase the €72,000 first prize in the Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final....

Entries are now open for the Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Naas Racecourse scheduled for Monday, May 29. The trials, restricted to unraced juveniles and 3-year-olds, are operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) and backed by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (IEBF) and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). The 2023 edition will be back on turf for the first time since 2019, and all the trials will be conducted over six and seven furlongs. Notable graduates of the trials include Group 1 winner A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot...

Ballylinch Stud's John O'Connor has been named the new Chairman of the European Breeders' Fund. He replaces Philip Freedman, who served two terms in that role. O'Connor, who has also been Chairman of the Irish EBF and ITBA in the past, said, "I am delighted to take on the Chairmanship of the EBF in its 40th year. The EBF plays a significant role in supporting the racing industry at many levels. Due to the calibre of stallions that now stand in Europe and through the commitment of stallion farms large...

The fourth running of the Irish EBF Ballyhane S. on Monday, August 7 will be worth €300,000, with every runner in the race set to earn prize-money. At a twin launch at Ballyhane Stud and the Lord Bagenal Hotel on Wednesday evening, representatives from Naas Racecourse, the Irish EBF and Ballyhane, ably helped by the stud's impeccably behaved new stallion Space Traveller (GB), also announced an accompanying prize for one lucky racegoer of a trip to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Entrance to Naas Racecourse for the meeting will be...

A total of €2.7 million will be added to the prize-money of Irish races in 2023 by the Irish European Breeders' Fund, an all-time record high. Celebrating 40 years of service to Irish racing, the Irish EBF's 2023 contribution brings their overall contribution to over €57 million since its founding in 1983. Almost 500 races, both Flat and National Hunt, will carry EBF conditions this year. Over 42% of the total spend by the Irish EBF is targeted at 2-year-olds, with almost all of the maiden races, the successful Irish...