Irish European Breeders' Fund

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...

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...

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...

Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud has been named the new Chairman of the Irish European Breeders' Fund at the organisation's annual general meeting, while Tom Gaffney of Castlehyde Stud is the new Deputy Chairman. On the Board of the Irish EBF since 2002 as a governor, Foley was appointed to the Deputy Chairman role in 2017. He replaces outgoing Chairman John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud. Gaffney has served on the Irish EBF for 21 years representing Coolmore Stud and also has a wealth of experience from his role as Chairman...

Fields for the Aug. 18 Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Dundalk Stadium are now available here. Wednesday's barrier trials, scheduled to begin at noon, will be run over five, six or seven furlongs and are open to unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. Operated by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and backed by the Irish EBF and IHRB, the trials will be recorded, timed, and made available to view online shortly after running on the ITM website and social media. In addition, a live stream will also be available to view on the ITM...

Entries for the Aug. 18 Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Dundalk close at 5 p.m. GMT on Wednesday, Aug. 11, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing announced on Tuesday. Backed by the Irish European Breeders' Fund and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and operated by ITM, the trials-which begin at 12 p.m.--are open to unraced 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds over five, six and seven furlongs. Recent graduates of the programme include G3 Gordon S. hero Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Listed Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF S. winner Wren's Breath (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}). A...

The value of the second running of the Irish EBF Ballyhane S. has been increased from €200,000 to €300,000, the Irish European Breeders' Fund, Ballyhane Stud and Horse Racing Ireland announced on Monday. The median auction race is now the most valuable 2-year-old race that will be held in Ireland in 2021, with the race aimed at EBF eligible 2-year-olds with a sire's median price of no more than €75,000 from last year's yearling sales. It will be conducted over five furlongs and 205 yards at Naas Racecourse on Bank...

The Irish EBF and the Irish National Stud will be joint sponsors of four 2-year-old fillies' maidens this summer, the stud announced on Tuesday. The INS Stallion's Summer Series will give the winning breeder a free nomination for the 2021 season to the stallion named in each race in addition to the prizemoney allocation. The June 20 'Free Eagle' Irish EBF Fillies' Maiden will be held at Naas, followed by the 'Phoenix of Spain' Irish EBF Fillies' Maiden at The Curragh on June 26, the July 3 'National Defense' Irish...

Prize money levels have been restored to their pre-COVID-19 levels for each race in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series and the new Irish EBF Median Sires Series, the Irish European Breeders' Fund announced on Monday. Each race series had its prize money cut per race by €1,000 as a result of the coronavirus, but the Irish EBF stepped in to return prize money levels to pre-COVID. There are 10 Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction races and 11 Irish EBF Median Sires races to the beginning of August, with...