Have horse will travel - this quarter we focus on opportunities in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Hong Kong

Article by Lissa Oliver

Hong Kong

While the celebrated Champions Day and Longines International races attract plenty of attention globally, all 31 Group races run in Hong Kong are open to overseas entries and include x12 established Group 1 contests, x7 Group 2 and x12 Group 3 races. 

Prize money for Group 1 races ranges from HK$13 million (€1.5m/£1.3m) to HK$40 million (€4.6m/£3.84m), while Group 2 races are worth HK$5.35 million (€622,000/£530,000), and Group 3 races offer HK$4.2 million (€493,000/£420,000). The Group 1 contests include prize money down to sixth place and all are open to three-year-olds and up and run on Turf at Sha Tin. 

The Triple Crown includes a bonus of €1.1m/£1m to be paid to the owner of the horse that wins all three legs of the Triple Crown. The opportunity opens with the 1600m (8f) Stewards Cup worth €1.48m/£1.2m, Sunday 19th January 2025. Free entries for international runners close 25th December and supplementary entries close 16th January 2025.

The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Hong Kong Gold Cup on Sunday 23rd February 2025 over 2000m (10f), worth €1.48m/£1.2m. Free entries close 27th January 2025 and supplementary entries close 11th February 2025.

The final leg of the Triple Crown is on Sunday 25th May 2025, the 2400m (12f) Champions & Chater Cup, with a purse of €1.48m/£1.2m. Free entries close 27th April 2025 and supplementary entries close 11th May 2025.

Another bonus available is for the winning horse of all three legs of the Hong Kong Speed Series. Sunday 19th January 2025 sees the 1200m (6f) Centenary Sprint Cup, the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, worth €1.48m/£1.2m, with free entries closing 30th December 2024 and supplementary entries closing 13th January 2025. A bonus of €580,000/£500,000 will be paid to the owner of the horse that wins all three legs of the Hong Kong Speed Series.

Sunday 23rd February 2025 is the 1400m (7f) Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, carrying prize money of €1.48m/£1.2m. Free entries close 30th January 2025 and supplementary entries close 16th February 2025.

The 1200m (6f) Chairman’s Sprint Prize is the final leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, worth €2.5m/£2.2m, run on Sunday 27th April 2025, free entries closing 16th March 2025 and supplementary entries closing 6th April 2025.

The Hong Kong feature event is the Longines Hong Kong International Races on Sunday 8th December, billed as the epitome of elegance and speed, featuring elite jockeys and the world’s best horses. As well as four Group One races on the day, racegoers can enjoy a variety show, live music, exquisite cuisine and a vibrant party atmosphere. Free entries for the major races on the day close 21st October and supplementary entry closes 18th November at €27,804/£23,690.

The four Group 1 races are the €2.78m/£2.31m Hong Kong Vase over 2400m (12f); the €3.01m/£2.51m 1200m (6f) Hong Kong Sprint; the €4.17m/£3.48m 1600m (8f) Hong Kong Mile; and the €4.63m/£3.86m 2000m (10f) Hong Kong Cup.

Sunday 27th April 2025 sees FWD Champions Day, one of Hong Kong’s most popular sports events. Featuring three prestigious Group 1 races on the day, free entries closing 16th March 2025 and supplementary entries closing 6th April 2025, it provides local racing fans with the chance to see how the city’s top horses shape up against their overseas counterparts.

The 1600m (8f) Champions Mile is worth €2.76m/£2.3m; the 2000m (10f) QEII Cup is worth €3.2m/£2.7m; and the aforementioned 1200m (6f) Chairman’s Sprint Prize is the final leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club offers shipping incentives to selected overseas horses for the seven feature Group 1 races (Longines Hong Kong Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Longines Hong Kong Vase, FWD QEII Cup, FWD Champions Mile and Chairman’s Sprint Prize). The Quarantine Stables are located at Sha Tin Racecourse, 45 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport.

The stable blocks are temperature controlled, with rubber flooring throughout and monitored by closed circuit television. Each stable is equipped with a feed manger and tie up ring. 

The isolation stables compound includes rubberised horse walkers, sand rolls, weighing scales, wash bays, ice machines, freezers and an all-weather arena. Paper strips and shavings are available for bedding. 

The Club imports feed from Australia, China, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the USA, and large selections of proprietary feeds are also available. The Club has excellent stocks of Timothy Hay, Lucerne Hay and Chaffs. Importation of feed and water, subject to examination, is permitted, however the import of plant material such as hay and chaff is subject to a valid Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the exporting country. 

Connections of selected overseas horses for Hong Kong’s seven feature Group 1 races will enjoy travel and accommodation packages provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, two tickets each for the owner and trainer and one ticket for the jockey. Four nights hotel accommodation (room only) will be provided for a maximum of two persons per category at the Club’s selected hotel. All airport and racecourse transfers are also included.

For staff, a maximum of two persons per horse will also be provided with accommodation (one room each) at the Club’s selected hotel in Sha Tin for the normal duration of the trip. A predetermined daily allowance to cover in-house expenses such as food and beverages, transport, telephone and internet, as well as laundry, will also be provided. All airport, stabling facilities and racecourse transfers are also included.

For those visiting, the five-star Hyatt Regency at Sha Tin provides an urban resort with a luxury spa, adjacent to the University MTR Station in Sha Tin, with lush greenery only steps away from busy urban areas.

Dubai

The Dubai Racing Carnival, now in its 20th year and given a new look for last year’s season, opens in November at Meydan Racecourse. Alongside top-class racing, Meydan boasts five-star dining and live entertainment and is 15 minutes from Dubai’s central hub. The racecourse offers tailored hospitality packages at the restaurants, lounges and private suites, all with elevated views of the racing. The climate is also described as “pleasant” during the winter season.

Home of the €28.1m (£24m) Dubai World Cup meeting, Meydan is the world’s largest integrated racing facility and hosts 15 meetings throughout the season, concluding in early April with the Dubai World Cup, the highlight of Dubai’s sporting and social calendar.

There are a number of valuable opportunities all season, beginning in November with the €125,600 (£106,912) Listed Dubai Creek Mile on dirt for three-year-olds up. January is busy, with 11 black type races from 1000m (5f) up to 2810m (14f) and ranging from €125,600 (£106,912) for Listed up to €213,489 (£181,719) for Group 2s and €924,282 (£786,662) for the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge, 1900m (9f) on dirt. On turf, the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, 1800m (9f) carries a purse of €464,658 (£395,469).

The 2025 Carnival sees the introduction of The Dubai World Cup bonus scheme, which offers a total prize pool of €3.5m (£2.9m) across 10 races. Winners of these races will get automatic entry to Dubai World Cup night. 

An additional 10% bonus is awarded to horses that win both the qualifying race, and the corresponding race on Dubai World Cup night. 

The scheme has been created to encourage more owners and trainers to prepare their horses in Dubai ahead of the Dubai World Cup.

Fifteen black type races from Listed up to Group 2 are run at Meydan during February and March, again from 1000m (5f) to 2810m (14f) and with similar valuable prizes, all of which lead through to the end-of-season highlight of Dubai World Cup night.

The Group 1 Dubai World Cup itself will be run a week later than normal next year on April 5th and the feature race will be worth €10.7m (£8.9m) 

The highlights of the supporting card’s Group 1s are the 1200m (6f) Al Quoz Sprint on turf worth €1.4m (£1.2m), the 1200m (6f) Dubai Golden Shaheen on dirt worth €1.8m (£1.6m), the 1800m (9f) Dubai Turf worth €4.6m (£3.9m), and the 2410m (12f) Dubai Sheema Classic on turf worth €5.5m (£4.7m).

In 2025 the UAE Derby, worth €900k (£745k), will form the final leg of the revised Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby. The winner of the race will get an automatic spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May - subject to the horse being nominated to the U.S Triple Crown series.

Elsewhere in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club hosts the Listed 1600m (8f) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup in December, and the Listed 1400m (7f) HH The President Cup, both on turf with a prize of €95,443 (£81,242) each. Jebel Ali Racecourse hosts the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, the third leg of the Emirates Sprint Series, 1000m (5f) on dirt for a prize of €125,600 (£106,912), and the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile on dirt, €175,840 (£149,677).

Saudi Arabia

Since its inaugural running in 2020, The Saudi Cup has rapidly become a major international race and in 2025 Saudi Cup Weekend at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will have total prize money of over €34.68m (£29.5m) on offer, including the 1800m (9f) Group 1 Saudi Cup itself worth €18.5m (£15.73m). The meeting, at the end of February, is also Riyadh’s social event of the year, offering visiting racegoers a taste of the finest style, culture and hospitality of Saudi Arabia.

The two days of top-quality racing include an International Jockeys Challenge, two Group 1 Purebred Arabian races, the €462,235 Al Tuwaiq Cup for locally-trained horses and dirt and turf races culminating in the Group 1 Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race, run on the King Abdulaziz dirt track, the final event on Saturday’s eight-race card.

Adding international flavour to the Friday card is the 2100m (10f) €462,235 (£393,255) Saudi International Handicap confined to horses trained within the IFHA-registered Part II and III racing countries, which should be of interest to the relevant European countries. (Part II nations Bahrain, India, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Singapore, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Part III nations Belgium, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Hungary, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Qatar, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and Trinidad & Tobago.)

With prize money down to 10th place, The Saudi Cup serves to raise the profile of racing to local communities, as well as foreign fans and professionals. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia was formed in 1965, but the founding of The Saudi Cup and the 1800m turf track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse has seen Saudi Arabia upgraded from Part III to Part II by the IFHA and is likely to achieve Part I status in the near future.

2022 saw the first international Pattern races held as part of The Saudi Cup weekend. The 2100m (10f) Neom Turf Cup, the 1351m (7f) Turf Sprint, the 1600m (8f) Saudi Derby, the 1200m (6f) Riyadh Dirt Sprint and the 3000m (15f) Red Sea Turf Handicap were all promoted to Group 3, while the Saudi Cup became Group 1.

With more than 70 international horses, The Saudi Cup hosts more international runners than any other race meeting. Stabling, quarantine and training facilities are provided at all of the racecourses, subject to availability, and invited connections at King Abdulaziz Racecourse are provided with complimentary access to the Howden Owners & Trainers Lounge, and dining in the Al Thuraya Trackside Restaurant. 

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia can arrange transport for delegates and guests between venues, and the racecourses have plentiful free parking with international airports close by. Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel is a 5-star hotel five minutes from King Khalid International Airport and ten minutes from the racecourse, with a restaurant, gym and outdoor pool. The Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport is close to the airport and 15 minutes from the racecourse, with spacious rooms, duplexes and villas, as well as restaurants and leisure facilities.

The Equine Hospital in Riyadh provides advanced care in diagnostic procedures, treatment, emergency care and hospitalisation for equine patients, open around-the-clock every day of the year for emergency and critical care cases.

Qatar

The 2023/24 racing season, running from mid-October through to the end of April, saw a rise in prize money and international runners, reflecting the commitment of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and the high standards of Al Rayyan and Al Uqda racecourses. Work will continue to ensure that the 2024/25 season will meet expectations and continue to raise standards. Al Rayyan at Doha is the premier racecourse and home to the state-of-the-art training centre. The turf track is 1800m (9f) and the sand track 1400m (7f). 

Abdulla Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, says, “We organised 67 race days during the last season, including 45 on both turf and sand at Al Rayyan and the rest on both turf and sand at Al Uqda. We base the season on weather conditions and take into account the ratings of Arabians and thoroughbreds to ensure the largest possible number of horses have the opportunity to run in races, which suit their ages and abilities.

“The 2023-2024 season saw the prize money reach an unprecedented figure in QREC’s history, €22.2m (£18.9m), of which €19.8m (£16.8m) was offered by the races held at Al Rayyan and the remainder at Al Uqda. This contributed to raising the standard, enhancing the stature of the Festival in the region and attracting several runners from European and Asian countries. For the first time, the minimum prize money for a feature race was €30,442 (£25,900).”

Mid-February sees the highlight of the season, the Group 3 HH The Amir Trophy for four-year-olds and up, over 2400m (12f) at Al Rayyan, Doha, carrying a total purse of €2.3m (£2m) and worth €1.3m (£1.1m) to the winner. 

How AI technology is influencing the breeding and training of racehorses

Article by Virginia Lisco

Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing significantly across all industries, revolutionising the way we approach work. In many areas, it facilitates the storage and processing of big amounts of data that the human mind would not be able to handle alone, helping us make more informed decisions based on objective information. 

Although this development is progressing at a slightly slower pace in the racing industry compared to other sectors, the introduction of AI and the use of tech devices that collect data and turn it into analysis are gradually finding their place in this field as well. 

The world of racing, which has so far been characterised by an aura of unpredictability - part of the excitement and thrill that makes it so captivating - is actually an industry filled with data and variables that can be measured and analysed. 

Thanks to AI and new technological devices, which leverage generations of data, extremely innovative systems are emerging that provide objective answers to questions that once relied solely on human intuition and observation. 

However, this does not mean that the rise of these devices should be seen as a replacement for human expertise, but rather as a valuable support. These tools will never replace the role of bloodstock agents, trainers or breeders, but will instead assist them in the decision-making process by offering insights based on empirical data, making their choices more informed and objective.

From the initial selection of the right match between mare and stallion, through identifying the ideal yearling at sales, to measuring the horses' vital parameters during training and providing race recommendations, artificial intelligence and tech devices are offering 360-degree support.

BREEDING

Since the earliest days of breeding, the dream of every thoroughbred racehorse breeder has been to create perfect champions, endowed with the ideal combination of strength, stamina and temperament. 

Over the centuries, the quest to unlock the secret of breeding invincible horses has lingered between genetic theories, intuition and bold experimentation. Federico Tesio, one of the most visionary figures in the field, argued that success was not merely a matter of a fortunate combination of genes but was deeply tied to the intrinsic energy of the horse. This approach, combined with rigorous selection and careful evaluation of bloodlines, formed the foundation for pursuing those winning combinations that could produce extraordinary champions.

But what if today’s breeders could go beyond intuition and legacy knowledge? What if data science could predict the best match for your stallion and mare? 

With access to an immense database of nearly four million horses, AI-powered predictive tools are now transforming breeding and buying decisions, enabling breeders to make choices grounded in data. 

These tools, built upon established pedigree theories, offer insights backed by over 30 generations of bloodstock data, tracing back to the very beginning of the thoroughbred breed. By harnessing this wealth of information, breeders can optimise their strategies like never before, ensuring each pairing is a precise, informed step towards crafting the next racing legend. 

One company leading this transformative shift is Equine Match, leveraging AI-driven systems to revolutionise pedigree analysis and breeding decisions. Equine Match's advanced tools allow breeders to analyse not just the direct bloodline of a horse but also to assess its performance across three to five generations. 

By examining the racing and pedigree features of ancestors, including sires, dams, and their progeny, Equine Match can predict with up to 95% confidence how a horse will perform at various racing levels, from Black-Type performers to stakes winners or group winners. 

Equine Match’s predictive algorithms calculate these probabilities based on a unique combination of sire and dam ratings, which factor in expected versus actual progeny results and evaluate the broader distaff family. The pedigree pattern analysis further weighs the success of specific ancestral combinations using Z Statistics scores, comparing results against a standard score to identify statistically significant patterns. 

With access to a vast database of nearly four million horses, Equine Match can assess the quality of prospective matches, enabling breeders to search for their ideal sire and dam combinations, view real-time performance metrics, and even analyse hypothetical pedigrees for potential inbreeding coefficients and alignment with the ideal racing profile.

Another cutting-edge advancement in the breeding industry is the use of genomic tools to create the perfect match. These tools go beyond traditional pedigree analysis by examining the genetic profile of horses at the DNA level, revealing insights that were never accessible before. 

One leading example is Checkmate, a revolutionary online breeding tool powered by Equinome. Checkmate enables breeders to analyse their mare's genetic profile in high definition and identify stallions that best complement her DNA, all from a simple blood sample that uncovers details beyond the pedigree.

Checkmate empowers breeders and stallion owners to manage genetic inbreeding risks, increasing the chances of live foals and enhancing racing durability. Scientific studies have shown that higher levels of genomic inbreeding are linked to severe issues such as foal loss, stillbirths and decreased racing potential. 

Research from the Royal Veterinary College and University College Dublin has highlighted the significant impact of inbreeding on foal viability and racing success, underscoring the importance of managing these risks. Checkmate provides real-time predictions of genomic inbreeding in hypothetical foals by matching the DNA profile of a mare with that of up to ten chosen stallions, calculating risk scores and flagging high-risk matings.

Checkmate helps breeders avoid high-risk genetic combinations that could lead to foal loss, thereby allowing them to make more informed breeding decisions. By leveraging genomic data, breeders can refine their breeding strategies, enhancing the health and durability of their foals and pushing the limits of what is achievable in thoroughbred breeding.

The advent of these advanced tools represents a significant shift in the breeding landscape. As Luca Cumani, breeder at Fittocks Stud, notes, “This will be a progressive change to refine choices, and it will always need to be paired with human observation, but it's important to be open to understanding how these new technologies work.”

AT THE SALES 

During the Sales, the phrase “good luck” is often exchanged, reflecting the hope of finding and securing the best horse, a potential future champion, from the lengthy catalogues. 

But is success really just about luck, or is there a way to minimise this element and base our decisions on more objective criteria? 

Recently, a range of advanced tools have been developed to support bloodstock agents, trainers, and owners in their search, using AI-based systems that draw from extensive databases to inform better decision-making. There are various methods to approach these objective analyses, including pedigree evaluations, biomechanical assessments.

For example, a significant advancement in this field is HALO, featuring its AI assistant "Hailey," designed to guide buyers through the complexities of sales selection. Hailey analyses detailed data on each horse, from performance history and pedigree to biomechanical evaluations. 

What truly sets HALO apart is its partnership with the most advanced Vet-AI on the market, that contributes to providing a record of the health of the horses that will be purchased. This partnership enables Hailey to deliver a detailed health record of the horse being considered, interpreting complex veterinary reports such as X-rays with remarkable accuracy and predicting potential health issues.

Also, Equine Match helps users refine their shortlists by analysing pedigree quality, racing performance of progeny, and detailed sire ratings, to provide an objective assessment of each horse’s potential. This approach enables users to manage and compare a large volume of data in a short time, far beyond what the human mind could achieve, enhancing the overall selection process with precise, data-backed insights.

Another interesting tool is Tom Wilson’s biomechanical profiling technique, which evaluates a horse’s physical structure and movement patterns to gauge its racing potential. Wilson has extensively studied the link between biomechanics, kinematics and on-track performance. His approach involves collecting detailed data on every yearling sold at auctions in major markets like the UK, Ireland, France, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Key measurements include joint angles, the speed and velocity of specific body parts, the coordination between joints, and the cycles and rotations of their gait. By analysing this information from a growing database of 6,000 yearlings, Wilson identifies the biomechanical traits that correlate most strongly with racing ability. This data-driven approach allows comparisons between a horse’s biomechanical profile and its subsequent performance on the track, highlighting the most critical joint movements that influence future success.

The use of AI and data-driven tools represents a different approach from the traditional methods of horse selection, striking a delicate balance between technology and intuition. As breeder Franca Vittadini notes, “AI will never help me feel the sensation a horse gives me when I look at it, or see the small flaws and qualities that make me think it’s the right one.” 

Yet, there is also recognition of the need for more objective strategies. As Spencer Chapman, co-founder of Equine Match, states, “we’ve got to find a more scientific way to select.” This blend of traditional expertise and modern technology is reshaping how the industry identifies and invests in future champions.

RACING 

The use of AI in racing recommendations is revolutionising how trainers, owners, and jockeys approach race strategies. Advanced AI tools analyse vast datasets, including past performance, track conditions, and competitor analysis, to provide insights that were previously difficult to obtain. 

HALO’s simulation video allows users to visualise a potential race scenario, predicting how a horse might perform under specific conditions such as pace, positioning, and track type. This technology helps trainers make informed decisions on race tactics, selecting the right race for their horse, and optimising performance on race day.

HORSE PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH 

The health and physical condition of horses in training play a crucial role, not only in achieving optimal performance but, more importantly, in ensuring a high level of welfare. 

In the racing landscape, new tech devices have emerged that assist in monitoring and preserving the health of horses. These tools are essential for analysing causes of underperformance, determining the ideal fitness level for racing, and, most critically, reducing the risk of injuries. 

The trainer’s job is extremely challenging, requiring them to understand, observe and analyse a horse’s physical and mental condition from all angles. They must assess the horse’s aptitudes, such as distance preference, track surface suitability, and the appropriate amount and type of work, all while trying to maximise the horse’s potential. This delicate task relies not only on the trainer’s personal observations, instincts and sensations but also on the feedback of riders.

The use of GPS devices opens a new frontier in modern training, providing real-time insights into a horse's performance and physical condition. These specialised tools work by attaching sensors to the horse, usually in the girth area, to capture data on various metrics such as heart rate, stride length, speed, and acceleration. 

This data is then transmitted to a connected device, like a smartphone or tablet, where it can be analysed by trainers and veterinarians. The GPS provides insights into the horse’s fitness level, recovery rate, and overall performance, allowing for precise adjustments in training programmes.

By continuously monitoring these parameters, GPS devices help detect early signs of fatigue, underperformance, or potential injuries, enabling preventive measures to be taken and ensuring the horse maintains peak condition while minimising health risks.

An example of this advanced technology is the Equimetre by Arioneo, a device used by multiple trainers worldwide and in collaboration with organisations like the Hong Kong Jockey Club, NYRA and Racing Victoria. 

Trainers like George Scott rely on Equimetre to gather crucial data that enhances their training strategies. According to trainer Scott, “We use Equimetre to collect data which I’m becoming increasingly more committed to. A basic starting point is the fractions. You can back up what you’ve seen with your eyes against the clock. Cadence is a great indicator on trip. Recovery taken at three stages after work and trot symmetry are also helpful.” 

This data allows trainers to corroborate their observations with objective measurements, providing a more comprehensive understanding of a horse’s condition. The influx of data from such devices is also giving rise to a new professional figure in the racing industry: the data analyst. 

To address this growing need, Arioneo has introduced the "Equiscience Programme," aimed at developing skills in data interpretation and analysis specific to equine performance. This program reflects a broader trend in the industry, where data-driven insights are becoming essential for optimising training and enhancing decision-making, complementing the traditional expertise of trainers and riders.

The primary goal of these companies remains the enhancement of horse welfare. As Coline Labadie de Faÿ, COO of Arioneo, states; “The vision has always been to collaborate with the industry and provide tools to improve horse welfare and prevent injuries on a global scale. Institutions worldwide are becoming more and more concerned by the social licence of our sport and are putting concrete measures in place to try to avoid all possible injuries.” 

This growing awareness is driving the adoption of advanced tech devices designed to monitor and protect the health of horses, even around the clock.

Among these technologies is the V-PRO by Equimetrics, which offers 24/7 monitoring of vital signs such as temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate, providing real-time insights into the horse’s well-being through a user-friendly app. 

Another example is EQUISYM, a veterinary tool that helps diagnose locomotor asymmetries by analysing gait and movement patterns, aiding in the early detection of potential issues. These innovations reflect the industry's increasing focus on comprehensive health management and injury prevention, supporting the overall welfare of horses in training.

While these advanced devices offer valuable insights, they are complementary tools that work alongside the hard work and expertise of trainers, veterinarians, and riders. They enhance traditional methods without replacing the essential human touch in horse care and training. As Labadie de Faÿ suggests; “It will never replace your eyes; it will just help to not miss some little things.” 

These technologies are there to support, not substitute, the critical role of human observation, judgement and experience in ensuring the well-being and performance of horses.

What tweaks would you make to NH pattern races / calendar?

Article by Daragh Ó Conchúir

Getting consensus in racing is much like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So the changes to the Cheltenham Festival programme by The Jockey Club were lauded by many but criticised in plenty quarters too.

The press release announcing the six changes, headlined by the relegation of the Turners Chase from a Grade 1 to a Grade 2 novices’ handicap, said that they were made “with a focus on more competitive racing and a better experience and value for all”.

Everyone agrees with the focus. But Cheltenham is one meeting, THE meeting in terms of National Hunt racing. But if there is an issue of lack of competitiveness and entertainment, piecemeal measures don’t cut it. 

Speaking at the Asian Racing Conference in Sapporo on August 28, BHA chair, Joe Saumarez Smith said it was time to stop thinking in the short term in a bid to reverse fortunes. 

At the same conference, Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges opined that fragmentation was a problem in British racing. It isn’t solely a British problem, given the number of interest groups, but it is made more acute by the lack of central control on a calendar and racing programme.

There is an African proverb that says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Unity is required to push past short-term goals in pursuit of the long-term future. Some would argue that given the niche element of national hunt racing, this unity of approach should extend across Ireland, Britain and even France as the three are interlinked in terms of competition and trade. 

Some amendments have been made to the NH programmes in Britain and Ireland in the last year or so, in a bid to address the dilution of the value of graded form. Bigwigs from Horse Racing Ireland and the British Horseracing Association met towards the end of September for a think-tank to discuss numerous issues of shared interest. A discussion on working together in relation to the programme was among the topics but a broad chat was all that occurred.

Meanwhile, I spoke to a variety of stakeholders on where jump racing is going, what it needs and what it doesn’t, and got some interesting responses.

Emma Lavelle (Trainer: Britain)

A former president of the National Trainers’ Federation, best known for guiding the spectacular career of 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park, Emma Lavelle has been concerned about the dilution of the product offered by British jump racing for a few years now.

Lavelle offers a cogent and clear argument for change. What is remarkable, in her view, is that while there is too much racing, the programme swelled while still not catering for every tier of horse.

“Changes should be about trying to make racing more competitive at every level,” says the boss of Bonita Racing Stables.

“There's no doubt that uncompetitive racing doesn't make for interesting viewing, good betting medians. You will always have the odd uncompetitive race and sometimes, small fields are competitive and exciting, but uncompetitive racing is a turn-off, and it's a turn-off for the practitioners as well as the general public. So I think ultimately, we've got to do something to shake it up.”

Lavelle recounts that watching Frodon win the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, about 40 minutes before Paisley Park’s fairytale triumph in the Stayers, was as moving as it was exciting. Shishkin reeling in Energumene late on in a four-runner Clarence House Chase at Ascot three years later was on a similar level. That’s what needs to be encouraged.

Attempting to directly slow the growth and impact of NH’s major yards would be short-sighted she believes, punishing ambition and success. 

“It’s just how the cookie crumbles,” as she describes the stunning resources now available to the likes of Willie Mulins. “But it’s why we need to find different ways of making sure that we can all be competitive. 

“I do think that our race programme needs to become more aspirational from the bottom up. Finding a race for that 130, 140 rated horse is nigh on impossible. You’ve just got one race here and there. If you've got a horse that's rated 100 you can run it six times a week, and somehow that just doesn't seem right. We need to maybe force or encourage some lower-grade horses to compete in mid-tier races off lower weights as an incentive. Otherwise you’re racing to the bottom.”

The over-provision of lower-tier races applies at graded level in Britain too, apart from in the three-mile division she knows so well, when Paisley Park drew swords with the same opposition in the Long Distance, Long Walk, Cleeve and Stayers’ Hurdles to thrilling effect on an annual basis.

“The pattern of this country has been shaken up this year and a little bit last year to reflect that maybe it had just got a little bit big. Hopefully that will just help them make those races a bit more competitive. I do think that the fine-tuning and the slimming of it is an improvement, and I think that needs to happen in Ireland as well. 

“The thing is, where do you send some of these horses if they miss some of the other races? And is it right that we're just turning everything into handicaps? You don’t want to take too many away, because otherwise, what's the point in trying to create a nice horse? So you’re getting the balance right and when you make changes, just seeing how they work.”

Giving alterations time to bed in and to determine their impact is critical, she feels, because there is no one silver bullet. Addressing some clear imbalances should be a starting point, however.

“We always talk about prize money. I If you're lucky enough to get a horse that's good enough to win mid-tier-and-up races. You deserve to be paid for that, and certainly to incentivise ownership, that’s important.

“We're always scared about really shaking up the programme. You look at the French system, a lot of their races are about how much prize money you've won up to a certain period or through a certain period. People are loath to try new things, and then you get a short run at it, because people don't really engage with it, so you don't get the runners, so the racecourses don't want those changes.”

The Wiltshire-based conditioner believes that a co-operative approach between the jurisdictions would benefit but doesn’t believe pursuing a uniform pattern is practical, at this juncture at least, with so much to be addressed on home territory first.

“It would make perfect sense if there was a centralised system of ratings, rather than how it is at the minute, where the Irish will get more weight when they come over here, etc. I think things like that would make sense.

“But the problem is, it's hard enough to get everybody in this country on the same page – and when I say get everyone on the same page, I mean where everybody is coming at it without self-interest, but for the good of the sport. So to think that you're then trying to join up with Ireland or other countries, I just don't know how that could happen. It would be wonderful if it did, but it would take some negotiating.”

If there is one factor, over any other, preventing the level of change Lavelle feels is required in Britain, it is the lack of central control of fixtures and programming. 

“It's so frustrating. Sometimes you just feel, ’Why can't people take a step back and take their own interest out of it and look at the bigger picture?’ ”

Peter Molony (Breeder/Trader/Sales Agent/Racing Manager: Ireland)

Peter Molony is involved in the industry from the start of the process as a breeder, right through to the destination point, as racing manager for Kenny Alexander, owner of the history-making four-time Cheltenham Festival victor and dual Champion Hurdle-winning mare, Honeysuckle, and on the flat side, Qatar Racing’s Irish representative.

The Rathmore Stud manager is an ardent supporter of the ramped up NH mares’ programme in Britain and Ireland in the past decade, which has had such a monumentally positive impact on the demand for fillies at sales and their participation in jump racing.

Molony reckons the mares’ programme could be used as a test case for the creation of a broader uniform jump racing pattern in the jurisdictions. And if it worked, you would have a template to implement a programme on a universal level.

“What we have has been a huge improvement, and it's added massively to the overall racing experience, the market, in every way,” says Moloney of the mares’ programme. “But it's kind of grown up in a sort of higgledy, piggledy, sort of way, with a listed race added here, and a listed race added there, and not the greatest natural progression.

“At times you’d be wondering where the next race is if you wanted to stick solely to the fillies’ programme. So, I've suggested many times that the Irish and British authorities should sit down together and hammer out a proper pattern for them. And to be honest, it would make a lot of sense if they did it on a wider scale. But they could start with the fillies and mares, see how that works, and then go from there.”

As a breeder and trader who has produced the likes of former Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth and dual Cheltenham Grade 1 winner Sir Gerhard, and a NH agent with Goffs, the importance of the pattern is not lost on him. Nor is the erosion of the value of the exalted black type.

“If it was set up properly and got established, I think one pattern would add huge value to everything. And if you started with the fillies, it adds value to their form as well as to the overall enjoyment of the racing fan, of the overall racing product.

“You don’t want too many easy options, giving horses the chance to avoid one another all the time. The mares’ programme has been attacked in the past, and this continues to be attacked, that it's taking away from competitiveness. My argument is that it is actually adding competitiveness, because it's adding a whole new group of horses into the pool that wouldn't be racing at all.”

There were three distaff winners of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle before 2016. Annie Power, Epatante and Honeysuckle have doubled that tally in the blink of an eye. 

“Before the mares’ programme, the market didn’t exist. So you’d have none of those French mares. If you had a nicely-bred NH mare in Ireland, you just covered her. The racing mares are an exception. So the programme works but for it to be one programme would help it more.

“And then if that worked, bring it into the entire jump programme. In the flat game, people see progressions from your trials, into your Classics, and then into your later, all-age races with the clashes of the generations. People can see the progression, and that's great. It works well. It's easier to sell. I think if you had that in the national hunt game, it would be wonderful.

Willie Mullins (Trainer: Ireland)

There isn’t a sport in the world where sustained success isn’t at some point presented as a negative for the health of the sport. It must be tough to take even if criticism tends to be of a system rather than the winners’ magnificence.

He was crowned champion trainer in Ireland for a 17th straight year last season and became the first trainer since Vincent O’Brien 70 years previously to secure British honours. For context, Aidan O’Brien is on 26 consecutive native titles at the end of 2024 and a seventh British crown. 

Mullins, an ex-chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association, believes that there are plenty of opportunities through the levels in Ireland, pointing to the growth of Gavin Cromwell’s operation as just one sample. He doesn’t see a need for a standardised programme between countries.

“I think people should be very careful when they start messing around with the programme,” says Mullins. “When you do little tweaks with the programme, you don't realise the consequences that will have somewhere else. So that's a great legacy that (former HRI chief executive) Brian Kavanagh and Jason Morris (former director of racing, now director of strategy) gave to Irish racing, and we should cherish it.

“A few of us go to France. The French never come over here. Prize money isn't good enough for them. Our seasons are just slightly different as well. But I think the story about Irish and English jump racing is probably Ireland versus England. And for that to take place, you have to have an English pattern and an Irish pattern. And we're very lucky that we have a race meeting called Cheltenham, where it's nearly, for the want of a better word, a World Championships in our game and all roads lead to there and then to Aintree and to Punchestown.

“I think it's huge, the way it works at the moment. So if you want to break that up, I'm not sure it would be beneficial. 

“I also look at how racing has been put together by racing people, and I've seen, especially in Britain, over the last few years, people coming in from other sports, putting their imprint on racing, and they're not racing people. They don't realise how it works. They're in our sport for five years, and then they disappear off somewhere else. Meanwhile, they leave a fractured sport, putting in ideas that just don't take off or don't work.

“Racing is about breeding the best to the best, and hopefully get the best and taking on one another. And that's essentially it. That’s the core of racing.”

He considers the introduction of a team concept such as the Shergar Cup and racing League on the flat as ludicrous and argues that more focus should be on other factors in improving race-day experience for those in attendance than the action.

“When you have 35 minutes between races, it’s too long. I mean in the flat, it’s awful but even in national hunt. If you have a horse running in the first, and don’t have another till the last, it’s a long day. There are only so many cups of tea you can drink as there’s nothing else to do. It has been very boring for the public. They should look at that.

“And when it comes to Cheltenham, it is just too expensive.”

Jonathan Garratt (Kelso MD: Britain)

Jonathan Garratt has overseen the growth of Kelso as a desired destination for jumps racing with an imaginative, ambitious approach to programming and prize money. 

Last year, Garratt was scathing in his criticism of the BHA’s premierisation policy which planned to “declutter” Saturday racing in Britain, warning it could destroy the sport’s grassroots. It is a policy, Garratt tells us, that ignores the uniqueness of jump racing.

“Each of the three codes (if I can separate all-weather flat racing from turf) have very different opportunities and different threats,” Garratt declares. “And yet the BHA lumps them all together in the fixture process and has encouraged them to compete for a two-tier funding system which they’ve christened ‘core’ and ‘premier’.

“While it’s fairly easy to see an elite strand of racing on the flat, which exists on a global stage, jump racing is a much more integrated environment, where top-class horses develop over time, frequently competing at a grassroots level on their way to the top. The best horses might compete in point-to-points, or bumpers, or both. Many will take in a handicap or two, some in relatively modest company.

“Even during the recent Willie Mullins domination, we’d be hopeful of spotting a future Cheltenham Festival winner, or a Grand National winner, at a Kelso fixture which has been allocated the ‘core’ label.

“My opinion is that jump racing has a more nuanced and interesting narrative than flat racing and so we don’t need these false labels. We should be encouraging racegoers to follow the action at all tracks, and enjoy the progression as horses move through the developmental races and become seasoned performers – at whatever level they eventually attain.”

The purpose of all-weather racing is to provide a betting product in time slots that are not available to jump racing, Garratt argues. The story of jump racing is far deeper and a key asset he maintains.

“Each code has its own strengths. One of jump racing’s strongest is its unique ability to create fantastic, romantic stories. While it’s flattering that so many people have credited Kelso with developing the jumps’ programme through the changes we made to the Morebattle Hurdle, the truth is that we simply tapped into strengths that already existed in jump racing – we increased the value of a high quality race which was close in proximity to Cheltenham, made it a handicap to give more runners a chance, and added a £100,000 bonus to tie us into the existing Festival narrative. We were very fortunate when The Shunter won it in the first year!”

Garratt doesn’t think a centralised pattern for the chief NH countries would work but never one to knock a suggestion without offering another, he makes a different, radical proposal.

“One idea which I’d throw out there, instead, is a unified trainers’ championship. At the moment, the top British trainers will favour races in Britain over valuable opportunities elsewhere because they want to win their Championship. I assume it’s the same in Ireland and France. I might be wrong, but Willie’s bid for the British Championship appeared to be an afterthought, it came into the reckoning after he’d already enjoyed a great Cheltenham.

“If a European Trainers’ Championship had a really good prize and was supported by the media, trainers might consider running in races throughout all of the countries which were part of it. I’m not saying it would work – but if greater international cooperation was considered beneficial to the sport, this might be one way to move it forward.”

Louisa Carberry (Trainer: France)

Louisa Carberry is a native of England from an eventing background who is based in France ten years, where she met and married Philip Carberry, the Champion Hurdle winning jockey from the famed clan that became the first Irish jockey to win the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris – the French Gold Cup - in 2006. 

She became the first foreign woman to train the winner of the Grande Steepe in 2020. Docteur De Ballon backed up 12 months later and with Louisa saddling Gran Diose to a third victory in five seasons last May, she is now in exalted territory.

The programme and prize money make France the most desired place to train for her.

“We have a lot fewer handicap handicaps over here in jumping,” Carberry explains. “What we do have is very valuable handicaps. There was a 100 grand handicap hurdle yesterday and that happens a couple of times a week, and they’re usually for horses rated from 0-130 and they’re highly competitive races.

“It’s a quite nice way of doing it. It might start off with a race for horses that haven't run three times or been placed twice. And then you might step up to races for horses that haven't picked up €20,000 this year. And then you get a kilo for every five grand you won. So you can sort of just step up and up and up. And then when you hit a bar, you change discipline. You go chasing.

“What I like is it's a very clear pyramid system here. For example, for chasers, five-year-olds and over, there’s one Grade 1 in the spring and one in the autumn. And so I think that's nice so the Grade 1 winner is essentially, hopefully, the best horse.”

With fewer jumps horses in training in France, there isn’t a need for the quantity of racing that exists in Ireland and Britain, but ensuring the best are taking each other on and that Grade 1s are not pieces of work should always be the target.

“Otherwise, it loses its importance, doesn’t it? We should have that stepping stone system, into a listed race if they’re capable and so on. You should be taking in a handicap on the way up unless, of course, the horse is clearly so super-talented that you don’t need to.”

She has little time for complaints about the dominance of Mullins et al.

“Everyone started somewhere. It should be more, ‘How can I compete with them more or, do as well as them?,’ rather than complaining. It’s easy to say that, of course, when I’m not in there. But you find what works. There are trainers that their business is based on selling one or two horses a year and if the horse goes on and runs well, they’re thrilled. Whereas I’d rather win a Gold Cup! But each to their own. I’d also be thrilled if the horse sold well and it went on to run well.”

Does being so prosperous within a French system remove the ambition of aiming for a Cheltenham Gold Cup, for example? Or would a uniform pattern, or at least something similar, bring travelling to one of the other two countries into focus for French trainers?

“Definitely, and we have gone to England and Ireland a couple of times. Happy to do more and are likely to do more. It's got to be worthwhile, that you think there's nothing more valuable over here. So it probably comes down to prize money, but then at the same time, God, I’d love to win a really good race, even if it was worth less than something over here. But over here, we know where we are, we've got our mark, their horse is going to do well, and it's worth a lot of money.

“I wouldn’t be against running in a nice handicap at Cheltenham either, by the way. It doesn't have to be a Grade 1. But you don’t know the horses you’re taking on, you don’t know the track, the racing style and the money isn’t great. So do I stick to what I know?”

Carberry believes more French-based trainers are looking beyond their borders, however. Current King George VI Chase favourite, Il Est Français (Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm) and Gold Tweet (Gabriel Leenders) made a splash in Britain in 2023. 

“I think it's important for us to show that we're keen and willing and able and capable of running them, but probably things like the season and the programme, a few little tweaks there might help. But that’s not something that’s going to happen overnight.”

Conclusion

This subheading may mislead. We have no definitive answers here. There is plenty of logic though and a few intriguing proposals  – take a bow, Jonathan Garratt with the idea of a European Trainers’ Championship!

Emma Lavelle’s championing of bands of racing for the mid-tier horse, and suggestions around adopting the French method of framing races around prize money, so well-articulated by Louisa Carberry, certainly appears to have a sound basis.

A single rating mechanism seems straightforward. Less so, perhaps, a NH equivalent of the European Pattern Committee that regulates the programme for flat racing, to avoid clashes in different jurisdictions, set conditions and ensure standard control i.e. that low-performing races have their status reduced and those constantly performing have them increased if they are not already Grade 1s.

One British course clerk, speaking off the record, had no doubt about the need for an overhaul of the pattern in some way. Of the circa 140 graded races in the jurisdiction, using three-year parameters, 54 of them are not performing. 

The pattern is supposed to be how we accurately measure achievement and status, with a variety of ways of eventually reaching whatever your ceiling. But if it is diluted and Grade 1s are thrown about like confetti, the entire product and system is devalued. 

Vin Cox, Yulong representative in Australia has discussed it in terms of a similar debate Down Under, about how the black type is the internationally recognised language but that its integrity is compromised by just adding another one “willy-nilly” i.e. without following a set list of criteria. 

Any thriving entity needs cohesion. We shall wait and see.

GVQ-EQ business of racing update

Article by David Sykes

How is technology being used to ensure that the social licence to operate horse racing is maintained?

Social licence is a poignant topic previously covered within the magazine where we have looked at its meaning and why it is so important. 

In this issue, David Sykes, the founding Partner of specialist management consultancy GVS EQ, takes a look at the power of technology on social licence and practical steps trainers can take with the help of these technologies. 

Social licence is not something that is going to go away and so as an industry, using the modern tools available could prove to be a ground-breaking shift in measuring equine wellbeing and welfare.

So, what are we doing differently to maintain our Social Licence to Operate (SLO) in horseracing?

SLO is based on trust, transparency and an engagement with stakeholders (and non-stakeholders) and is essential for maintaining a positive relationship with the community involved in the horseracing industry and those who are onlookers from afar.

There is not a racing industry in the world that is able to act with full autonomy, including from its jurisdiction’s Government, and nor should there be. Part of the challenge, highlighted at the recent Asian Racing Conference, is that, rightly or wrongly, political decision-makers are legislators increasingly acting in relation to community sentiment, rather than evidence. This makes matters around the sport’s social licence all the more important.

This article leaves aside the direction of travel with regard to betting regulation, and focuses on matters more directly in the sport’s control, and its responsibility to its key participants.

The social licence to operate in horse racing is affected by animal welfare concerns, the public perceptions of the sport, how horses are treated, transparency and accountability of the horseracing industry.

And so how are we going about addressing concerns, perceptions, transparency and accountability?

Well, lots of different things but increasingly we are using technology to help us. Technology, increasingly including Artificial Intelligence (AI), is being used to gather the facts that help tell our story: how well our horses are treated and looked after, to address the concerns that would endanger our SLO.

Technology gives us the real time numbers, the data that supports better research and tells the story to help maintain racing’s social licence and monitor our horses’ wellbeing.

How do you measure happy?

There are lots of steps to assessing horse wellbeing. Historically this has often been subjective. Examples are “he looks happy” and “he’s moving well.” But we know we need to assess those traits in a measurable and repeatable way. Having repeatable objective assessments of wellbeing allows researchers to develop benchmarks against which we can measure how well our horses are doing. 

Your horse cannot tell you when they have a fever and sore throat which then turns into a cough and nasal discharge 24 hours later. They cannot tell you about the sensitive tendon the day before the lameness appears and they cannot tell us when they are lonely or bored.

But various technological advances can forewarn us. 

Much technology (like the smartphone apps) is widely available to horse enthusiasts and will give you a “leg up” to monitoring the health and wellbeing of your horse.

Additionally, these benchmarks provide feedback that allows for early intervention, prevention of poor outcomes, education and even regulation where wellbeing is assessed as less than optimal, and of course celebration when it is all going well and the result being a better life for your horse.

How can we systematically recognise and measure these behaviours that equate to wellbeing?

This is where these new technologies come into the picture.

Technology helps us by recording various physiological parameters and tracking metabolic status, then looking at this massive amount of data, rapidly analysing the complex information and quickly providing feedback to us. 

Here are some examples of current technologies that can help provide objective measures that, as proxy measures, assess welfare and therefore perhaps serve as early indicators of welfare change.

If we can reliably tell a story using these facts – “my horse is performing well because his well-being is high – you can see it here” – then our social licence to operate is better protected.

Here are some advances

Continuous remote body temperature monitoring & temperature variation warning systems

Early and rapid recognition of temperature variations in horses in training is an excellent wellbeing management tool.

Measuring a horse’s temperature once or twice a day is common in many well organised equestrian facilities. It allows for the early detection of a potential disease or health problems. It is an indicator of wellbeing (or disease). Quarantine stables internationally record temperatures twice daily to monitor for infectious diseases. 

Recent research suggests that horses who are strenuously exercised whilst having an elevated temperature or virus infection may develop heart rhythm abnormalities later in their careers. 

Temperature Monitoring systems not only allow for individual horses to be automatically identified, and temperatures recorded and measured accurately after only 15 seconds but for any variation of more than 0.2 degrees from the running average trigger an alarm. This allows the trainer and staff to make an immediate decision on training, or exercise and put in place protocols within the stable process to assess if this is a minor change or if there is a medical reason for the temperature difference. By having the whole stable recording temperatures many infectious diseases such as respiratory viruses can be monitored and preventative quarantine measures put in place immediately.

There are also temperature recording systems that are associated with implanted Bio Thermal microchips. These chips continuously record body temperatures which are transmitted and evaluated automatically.

Automatic Appetite Monitoring Systems

Technology is now available that automatically records the amount of food not ingested by a horse for each feed. Notification alerts for food left are configurable by the trainer or owner. This feed left data is cross referenced with the temperature data to help figure out and understand any cause for periods of inappetence. 

Behaviour and Sleep monitoring and pattern analysis systems

Current research is only now beginning to allow us to understand and recognise the needs of our horses when stabled for lengthy periods. Technology has allowed data to be amassed and analysed on sleep patterns and REM sleep. Horses lie down for an average of only 4 hours every day. When they are lying down, they experience REM sleep for about half of that time. REM sleep is as important in the wellbeing of horses as it is for humans. The research from this analysis has shown that stable size and design has a significant impact on the willingness and safety that a horse feels in lying down. Stables need to be large enough for horses to lie down to get their REM sleep. 

As they are flight animals, they are more secure and relaxed when they can see surrounding areas when they lie down. Soft deep bedding is important but also the ability to see their neighbours and surroundings is a safety point. Stables built with high solid walls do not meet this social wellbeing requirement, however new stable designs with bars, grills and open areas between adjacent stalls allow for visualisation, direct contact, opportunities to socialise, better ventilation and less stressed healthier horses.

Gait analysis systems

Over the last two years there has been considerable investment into gait analysing software programs to aid veterinarians, trainers and owners. This technology allows the monitoring of gaits of horses consistently and repeatedly. There are several examples of this technology ranging from handheld smart phone recordings to sensors attached to saddle cloths that can record and transmit information instantaneously during exercise.

Gait asymmetry analysis

A gait asymmetry analysis program using AI and a smartphone allows veterinarians and trainers to record and have analysed a repeatable trot up video of their horse. It is non-invasive, builds a history bank of gait symmetry and movement and allows for the recognition of changes in the symmetry of a horse’s gait. It describes exactly “how this horse goes” today, and yesterday and the day before. It analyses phases of steps on each leg analysing push off and landing. 

Gait changes can be a proxy measure for pain or discomfort and recorded changes over time can aid owners, trainers and veterinarians to build a picture to inform diagnoses and response to treatments. Recognition of a sudden and significant gait change can allow time for changes in planned training loads and patterns to avoid potentially serious injuries occurring. 

Racing stride analysis

This technology allows sensors to analyse the gait of a horse under race conditions to help identify musculoskeletal injuries and /or gait changes that may lead to a significant injury. Reports supplied to trainers and can identify a horse at an increased risk of a significant musculoskeletal injury.

A 100 gram GPS and accelerometer in a saddle cloth is the sensor used and attached before racing or fast work. Data is collected when the horse is galloping at racing speeds. Sensors collect data at 7200 times per second. The data shows that each horse has a unique way of moving at high speed much like a “fingerprint” and it is a change in this fingerprint that is used in a predictive model for injury or unsoundness diagnosis. It is a proactive management program to prevent training and racing catastrophic injuries through early detection.

Race condition speeds, heart rate and ECG and motion analysis

Other compact sensors are capable of live data transmission. Fitting inconspicuously into the riding tack and tracking GPS location, training speeds, Heart Rate, ECG tracing and locomotion analysis during training. They can assess cardiac variability with workloads such as maximum heart rate and rhythm during exercise and recovering heart rates post exercise. They also can be used for the detection of early signs of lameness. Training sessions can be shared worldwide through live tracking.

Gait symmetry apps provide an opportunity to follow a horse’s gait. Gait change is often the earliest indication of current disease or injury (pain and lameness) and combined with veterinary supporting diagnostic techniques can be useful in assisting the prediction or even prevention of future harm.

Advanced Imaging technologies

Computerised Tomography (CT) Imaging 

New imaging technologies and equipment have led to the development of CT scanning techniques that are more suitable for horses. Previously horses had to be anaesthetised to have this imaging. The latest development of standing CT scanning systems has revolutionised the speed and safety of acquiring images of horse’s limbs whilst they are standing and sedated. 

The complete process takes around 20 minutes from start to finish with the actual scanning activity taking less than 30 seconds. The upside is that this technology allows for superior images and more sensitive details of skeletal structural changes than was previously available.

The images from CT show more lesions than radiographs because of the increased image clarity. The research from this new technology indicates that the skeletal changes seen occur as a response to training workloads. Current research suggests that the horse’s skeletal system is remodelling under training loads to become more resilient, however during this process there are periods of time whilst remodelling occurs, that the horse is at a higher risk of a small lesion developing into a major injury. The early identification and recognition of these small lesions allows for a change in the training workload or a period of rest to allow the bone to catch up, remodel and protect itself from becoming a more serious injury. 

This is an example of how technology from human medicine has been refined for horses and allows for the earlier detection of what might become a serious injury and allows changes in training patterns and workloads that might help prevent it. 

PET imaging or Positron Emission Technology 

This is like CT scanning; however, it gives a dynamic imaging of injury in distal limbs rather than a static view. This nuclear medicine technology involves the injection of a small dose of radioisotope which is taken up by the bone in areas where there is increased active remodelling occurring. These remodelling areas are an indication of the bone attempting to cope with the stress of training and protect itself from further injury. Because of the nuclear medicine this imaging allows for an interpretation of the severity of a lesion depending on the uptake of the isotope. 

“Hot lesions” take up more radioactive isotopes and therefore the scan reflects the relative acuteness of the lesion being viewed. Potentially repeat PET scanning allows for accurate interpretation of when lesions are healing and a horse can return to full activity safely. Like CT, PET, allows for the early identification of changes that the horses’ bones are undergoing, assess the severity of them and modify the training regimens and workloads as a preventative measure, potentially avoiding severe injury.

These are just a few examples of the rapidly developing potent tools for health monitoring that may provide a ground-breaking shift in your horses’ healthcare. Hand in hand with good horseman skills and observations, technology and AI are allowing the collection and interpretation of information that can be used to understand and measure equine wellbeing and welfare. This information when collated becomes a benchmark for the industry and allows for transparency, accountability, overcomes poor perception and allows the industry to maintain its Social Licence.

International Opportunities - the key international races to target this autumn

Article by Lissa Oliver

As we saw in our last issue, new and emerging racing nations can offer very lucrative targets as they attempt to establish themselves on the world stage. Outside of the European season there have never been as many valuable opportunities as currently on offer this coming autumn and winter, from both new and rapidly rising racing jurisdictions. North America also offers some lucrative opportunities throughout the year, with early-closers starting in May 2025.

North America

Breeders’ Cup

This year the Breeders’ Cup will be held in November at Del Mar and it hardly needs introduction. With 14 championship races held over two days, Future Stars Friday sees the two-year-old championships run for purses of €931,130 (£783,500) and €1.9m (£1.6m). Saturday boasts nine races, culminating with the €6.5m (£5.5m) Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The “win and you’re in” Challenge Series consists of 69 of the best races from around the world, from June to October, awarding each winner an automatic and free entry into the Breeders' Cup World Championships.  

Santa Anita

This year sees a new initiative creating links between prestige British races and valuable North American turf races. The ultimate aim is to build the international profile of all races in the partnership by increasing the number of runners travelling from the US to the UK, and vice-versa. Winners of two valuable contests in North America in the spring gain automatic entries for the Gr1 Eclipse and the Gr1 July Cup, while the Eclipse and July Cup winners gain automatic entry and travel incentives for two prestigious contests in North America in the autumn, the 2000m (10f) Gr2 California Crown John Henry Turf and the 1300m (6f) Gr2 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint, each worth €696,634 (£587,848) and run at Santa Anita 28th September.  

Matt Woolston, The Jockey Club’s Assistant Racing and International Director, points out, “By pairing two of the UK’s most famous and prestigious Group One contests in the summer with a quartet of valuable North American turf contests in the spring and autumn, we feel we have the perfect race schedule for transatlantic runners. In addition, British and other European trainers now have the chance of an incentivised trip to North America in the autumn for races at Santa Anita’s exciting new California Crown meeting. We feel we have highlighted a race schedule that incentivises runners to travel across the Atlantic.”  

Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs is home to America's only European-style all turf racecourse and at 2000m (10f) in length it is one of the longest. It hosts just seven days each year, one of the most exclusive meetings in North America. From a VIP experience at the Finish Line to free tailgating and general admission on the final turn and stretch, Kentucky Downs provides a unique experience in an intimate atmosphere. The 2024 programme is 29th and 31st August, and 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th and 11th September, dates to mark in your diaries for 2025.

Headed by the €2.3m (£2m) Gr3 Nashville Derby (formerly the Dueling Grounds Derby) on 31st August, Kentucky Downs will stage six races worth at least €1.9m (£1.6m) apiece, including supplements for registered Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) horses that were foaled in the commonwealth and sired by a Kentucky stallion, with KTDF bonuses totalling €15m (£12.5m) over the seven-day meeting. The Nashville Derby is now the richest grass race in North America outside the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“We want to build the Nashville Derby into a race that American and European horsemen alike point to and buy horses for,” says Ron Winchell, co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs with Marc Falcone. “The name change reflects our close proximity to one of America’s great cities, which we see as an added incentive for coming. Even horses that aren’t Kentucky-breds will still race for $1.5 million, and we’ve positioned the Nashville Derby so that it fits into a big-money circuit for three-year-old turf horses with Keeneland and Churchill Downs’ stakes, as well as the New York’s Belmont Derby, Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby.”

The Kentucky Downs meet will have 11 races worth at least €931,000 (£784,000) with nine at graded status, including the track’s first Gr1, the €1.9m (£1.6m) Franklin-Simpson for three-year-old sprinters. The showcase 7th September card includes a quartet of €1.9m (£1.6m) races. Maiden races, already the richest in the world, have increased to €158,289 (£133,307) per race.

The meeting reflects Kentucky Downs’ commitment to becoming an international racing venue and has attracted European runners in recent years. Kentucky-bred and British-trained Ancient Rome won the €1.9m (£1.6m) Gr3 Mint Millions, and Irish-trained Reckoning Force won the €465,504 (£391,987) Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile, now with increased purse for 2024.

Colonial Downs

Virginia's premier racetrack is Colonial Downs, in New Kent, with two state-of-the-art racing surfaces. The 1800m (9f) Secretariat Turf Course is the widest turf track in North America and the dirt track is the country’s second largest. In August it hosts the Gr1 Arlington Million, 2000m (10f) turf, with a purse of €919,422 (£783,737).

Gary Palmisano Jr., Vice President, Racing, tells us, “Colonial Downs is widely regarded as one of America’s top turf courses and would be perfectly suited for European runners. The 1 1/8 mile oval is over 180 feet wide and plays as a very fair host to our three Internationally-renowned stakes races. We would be extremely excited and honoured to host European runners here in Virginia.”

Meetings are held every Thursday-Saturday from 11th July through to 7th September and entry fee for each of the stakes races, bar the Graded races, is €372 (£313). With stakes purses of €114,923 (£97,955), these include The Boston 1600m (8f) turf for three-year-olds, The Beverly D. Preview 1800m (9f) turf for fillies and mares three years and up, The Million Preview 1800m (9f) turf for three-year-olds and up, The Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes 1000m (5f) turf for two-year-olds, and the Kitten's Joy Stakes 1600m (8f) turf for two-year-olds. 

On The Arlington Million card is the Gr2 The Secretariat, 1600m (8f) turf for three-year-olds and Gr2 The Beverly D. 1800m (9f) turf for fillies and mares three years and up, both worth €465,500 (£391,750). The season comes to a close in September with the same prize money up for grabs in Gr3 The New Kent County Virginia Derby, 1800m (9f) turf, and the €229,854 (£195,917) Listed Virginia Oaks, 1800m (9f) turf.

All owners who start a horse at Colonial Downs will receive the greater of €919 (£782) or their share of the purse money from the race, while all trainers will receive €280 (£235) per horse started on turf and €465 (£392) per horse started on the dirt.

Australia

At this stage we’re all familiar with the opportunities open to foreign runners at the Melbourne Cup Carnival and the Victoria Racing Club hosts 10 Gr1 race days during the 22-day season at Flemington.

The 3200m (16f) Gr1 Melbourne Cup is the highlight, offering €98,500 (£83,200) from sixth place down to 12th, with € 2.7m (£2,3m) going to the winner and an overall value of €5.3m (£4.4m). Later that same week are three €1.8m (£1.6m) weight-for-age Gr1s, the 2000m (10f) Champion Stakes, 1600m (8f) Champions Mile and the 1200m (6f) Champions Sprint.

“European trainers have had great success at the Melbourne Cup Carnival for more than 30 years, it is always a great thrill to host international connections who make the journey to Melbourne and race their horses at Flemington,” says Leigh Jordon, the VRC Executive General Manager.

A more recent attraction is the Sydney Everest Carnival, some 640km further along the coast, held at Royal Randwick Racecourse and Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, where owners can also enjoy exclusive and complimentary facilities.

The Sydney Everest Carnival opens 21st September and closes 9th November, boasting the world’s richest race on turf The Everest, 1200m (6f) €12.3m (£10.4m) in mid-October at Royal Randwick.

The opening day at Royal Randwick features two weight-for-age races, each with a total prize of €615,840 (£520,265) for three-year-olds up, The 7 Stakes 1600m (8f) and the Gr2 1100m (5f) Shorts. Randwick later hosts the iconic 1600m (8f) Epsom Handicap, a Gr1 worth €924,000 (£780,500) and on the Everest supporting card is the €3m (£2.6m) Gr1 King Charles III Stakes over 1600m (8f).

At Rosehill Gardens, the Hill Stakes over 2000m (10f), and 1800m (9f) Five Diamonds each carry a purse of €1.2m (£1m), but the showpiece in early November is the €6.2m (£5.2m) Golden Eagle over 1500m (7f).

“It’s pleasing to see continued strong nominations for three of our flagship races in the spring,’’ says James Ross, Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering. “The strength of nominations highlight the significance of two major WFA races over the Royal Randwick mile in the 7 Stakes and ultimately the $5 million King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day. With the additional investment from our partners Racing NSW, we attract some of the highest quality participation from Sydney, interstate and internationally.”

Japan

Although racing has been established in Japan since the 1870s, this year the JRA celebrates its 70th anniversary. “We hold a variety of races every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year,” says JRA President/CEO Masayoshi Yoshida. “Horsemen from around the world praise the generous prize money, including bonuses, the well-maintained tracks, and the new international stables at Tokyo Racecourse that allow horses to enter directly from the airport. In November we will hold the Japan Cup, the world’s best race in 2023, at the Tokyo Racecourse. We appreciate seeing the greatest horses and watching with our guests from various countries, and our own enthusiastic horseracing fans.” 

The International Stable opened at Tokyo Racecourse in 2022 and each barn has a dedicated grass paddock, air-conditioning and remote monitoring system, with facilities for staff, and three training tracks. Horses can enter the stable directly from the airport for the quarantine period and remain there until the race itself, causing as minimal stress and disruption to their routine as possible. 

The import quarantine period is a minimum of seven days, and arrival and departure date to and from the quarantine is included in that period. The export quarantine period of one day or less will be conducted at the racecourse, unless the importing country, such as Australia, requires a longer quarantine period.

There are also two quarantine bases in the east and west of Japan. Both have good access to the airport and racetracks, and are fully equipped with excellent training tracks and staff accommodation. The Horse Racing School is an hour’s drive from Narita International Airport, while Miki Horseland Park serves horses arriving from Kansai International Airport.

The JRA may offer travel incentives for particular overseas horses, taking into consideration factors such as the horse's international rating, for Group 1 races. For invited overseas horses for the Japan Cup, the JRA will provide air transport for the horse and two attendants (economy class), return business class air tickets for the owner, trainer, jockey, and their spouse/partner, and five nights’ accommodation at a JRA designated hotel.

All Japanese Group 1s are free to enter, or by free invitation, and carry the same declaration fee of €20,200 (£17,500). The 2400m (12f) Japan Cup is run at Tokyo on the last Sunday in November for a purse of €7.3m (£6.3m), €3.3m to the winner (£2.9m). It also carries additional bonuses of €92,000-€2.8m (£79,000-£2.4m) from last-placed finishers up to first, for the winners of 14 designated European Gr1 races, six North American and seven Australian, and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

In mid-November, the 2200m (11f) Queen Elizabeth II Cup for fillies and mares at Kyoto carries a purse of €1.9m (£1.6m), with bonuses from €163,000-€646,000 (£138,000-£553,000) available to the winners of nine designated European Gr1 fillies and mares races, and travel subsidies are also available.

Sandwiched between those two races is the Mile Championship at Kyoto, worth €2.7m (£2.3m), also with travel subsidies available. The bonuses for winners of seven designated European Gr1 mile races, and the Dubai Turf, Woodbine Mile and Hong Kong Champions Mile are from €163,000 up to €646,000 (£138,000-£553,000).

Run on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse, the 1800m (9f) Champions Cup has a total value of €1.7m (£1.5m) with additional bonuses to the winner of 11 designated USA Gr1s, and the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup of €163,000-€646,000 (£138,000-£553,000).

There are also travel subsidies available for international runners in Japan’s other valuable Gr1s, including the 1200m (6f) Takamatsunomiya Kinen on turf at Chukyo on the last Sunday of March, the 1200m (6f) Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama on the last Sunday of September, the 2000m (10f) Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo last Sunday in October, and the premier summer races, the 3200m (16f) Tenno Sho Spring at Kyoto last Sunday in April, 1600m (8f) Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo first Sunday in June, and the 2200m (11f) Takarazuka Kinen last Sunday in June at Kyoto.

Bahrain

The Bahrain Turf Series is now in its fifth year and runs from 8th December through to 6th March. Each race carries prizemoney from €73,750 (£62,850) up to €91,880 (£78,200) and this attractive series is designed to attract international competition and to raise the profile of horseracing in Bahrain, providing opportunities for internationally-trained runners rated 85-100 to compete against local Bahrain-based horses.

“Three years after its launch, we believe the time is right to build on the success of the Bahrain Turf Series and expand the international programme to incorporate our season’s premier races,” explains His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain Turf Club. “For the first time, our most prestigious races, including the Crown Prince’s Cup and the King’s Cup will fall within the Bahrain Turf Series calendar. This move, coupled with the new floodlights, provides more flexibility to the race programme, and is intended to make racing in Bahrain an even more attractive and compelling proposition for international visitors.” 

As Hugo Palmer pointed out earlier this year, “The prize money in the series is excellent but consequently the races are competitive. With the right horse, you will have a lot of fun and the trip will be very worthwhile. This is the second time I have had runners in the Bahrain Turf Series and it’s clear that the Bahrain Turf Club is making giant strides. They are committed to improving everything from the training facilities to the race programme. My owners have absolutely loved it when they have gone to watch their horses run.”

In total, the series of sprint and middle-distance races comprises of 12 races, six in each division, an increase from last year, with each race carrying bonus prizes for the horses accumulating most points in their respective division.

On 8th December are the 1000m (5f) and 2000m (10f) races for horses rated 84-100. On 20th December are the 1000m (5f) and 2000m (10f) races for horses rated 84-100. 29th December sees the 1200m (6f) and 2000m (10f) races for those rated 80-100. On 12th January are two conditions races, over 1000m (5f) and 1800m (9f). Horses rated 80-100 have races on 2nd February over 1200m (6f) and 1800m (9f) and finally the series concludes 16th February, again for those rated 80-100, with a 1000m (5f) and 2000m (10f) offering.

The 2023/24 series attracted a record number of international runners, including horses from Hugo Palmer, John and Sean Quinn, and George Scott. The Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club has quarantine facilities for 50 horses, an equine pool and world class veterinary facilities provided by Baker McVeigh Veterinary Services.

“The racetrack has been in good condition throughout,” observed Sean Quinn. “Given the climate it must be hard to keep the turf track in such good nick, but the watering system is excellent.” 

George Scott, who earlier this year sent out Bahrain’s first Triple Crown winner, concurs. “The facilities for the horses are excellent, the barns are great and the training tracks have got better and better, you can use the grass or the synthetics. It’s a great place to train. My staff have loved it; it has been a great experience for them. A really wonderful set up. Another plus is that there are options outside of the Bahrain Turf Series, you can run your horse in the domestic programme too. I thoroughly recommend everyone to come and try it.”

For those seeking black type, the 2000m (10f) Gr2 Bahrain International Trophy in November for three-year-olds and up is establishing Bahrain as a premier horseracing destination. Run on turf, the race is worth €921,858 (£785,315), with €553,115 (£471,178) to the winner.

Entries close 2nd October with supplementary entry stages later in October, but there are three 'Automatic Invitation' races, for the first, second and third from The Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes and the Gr3 Strensall Stakes at York. The Bahrain Turf Club will provide air tickets for overseas connections and hotel accommodation on a room only basis. Shipment of invited horses will be arranged and paid for by the Bahrain Turf Club.

The different incentives available across Europe this summer for those in search of prize money and black type success!

Article by Lissa Oliver

In February, the European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced changes to the 2024 European programme of Flat Black-Type races. The EPC sanctioned a total of 826 Black-Type races (838 in 2023), comprising 416 Group races (418 in 2023) and 410 Listed races (420 in 2023). Five Pattern races have been downgraded in 2024, with a further 11 Listed races losing that status.

Jason Morris, Chair of the EPC, explained, “This year will see another contraction in the number of Pattern and Listed races to be staged throughout Europe, with the total number having declined from 852 races in 2022 to 826 in 2024. The European Pattern Committee continues to enforce the most stringent international quality control measures so that the racing and breeding industries can have the utmost confidence in the quality of European Black Type.”

This leaves trainers rethinking traditional routes to Black Type, but at the same time adding new avenues, some of which could lead to some interesting destinations. The EPC approved an application from Denmark to stage a new Black Type race in 2024, with the Golden Mile at Klampenborg over 1600m (8f) for three-years-olds and upwards in May being upgraded to Listed status and carrying a purse of €46,749 (£40,000). 

In Ireland, the Salsabil Stakes, a 2000m (10f) race for three-year-old fillies at Navan in April, has been upgraded from Listed to Group 3. Ireland will also stage a new Listed race for three-year-olds over 2400m (12f) at Gowran Park 27th July, the Marble City Stakes worth €46,749 (£40,000).

Flagship races in Poland and Spain

Although no new Listed race applications have been received from emerging racing nations, the EPC noted the strong first Listed edition of the Wielka Warszawska in Poland in 2023. Run over 2600m (13f) at Sluzewiec Racecourse 6th October, for three-year-olds up, it carries a prize of €111,138 (£95,092).

The €85,000 (£72,728) Gran Premio de Madrid in Spain also continues to perform well after being allocated Listed status by the EPC in 2022. It’s run at Madrid over 2500m (12.5f) 22nd June for three-year-olds up. 

These were created through the recent Flagship Race scheme by the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and EPC, allowing countries with no Black Type races to apply for a single Flagship race which qualifies for Black Type at a lower rating level. This provides horses with a slightly easier Black Type opportunity, by 2.2kg (5lbs). It also opens up new and often interesting destinations for owners and team.

Morocco 

Dr Paull Khan, Secretary-General of the EMHF, explains, “The quality control that is applied to European Black Type is the most stringent in the world. This is good, of course, because everyone recognises the strength of European Group and Listed races. But, on the other hand, countries with less-rich racing industries have long found it hard to establish races which attract the necessary quality of runners to qualify for Black Type. Essentially, for most race types, the average ratings of the first four finishers must be at least 100. Two years ago, the EMHF and EPC devised the Flagship Race scheme, under which countries with no Black Type races can apply for a single Flagship race to be given Black Type based on average ratings of the first four finishers being 5lbs lower than would normally be the case.  In simple terms, this means that trainers with horses up to 5lbs shy of normal Listed Race standard stand a reasonable chance of attaining black type when targeted at these races.

“There is a ripple effect which is of benefit to trainers,” Dr Khan points out. ”Other countries are looking to join the party, and in order to attract the necessary quality of entries - particularly from abroad – are ploughing money into their candidate races, and are often offering attractive travel incentives, too. Even if these races have not yet attained their Black Type status, they can still be immensely attractive propositions.”

Top of the list in this respect is Morocco’s Grand Prix de la Sorec. The 10th renewal of the Morocco International meeting will be held on the weekend of 16th and 17th November 2024 at the Casablanca-Anfa racecourse, a dirt track. This prestigious 14-race meeting plays a major role in promoting the Moroccan horseracing industry internationally and includes eight international races worth €1m  in total. Sunday is devoted to Purebred Arabians, with over €500,000 in prize money for the four Black Type races. 

Saturday is an all-thoroughbred card and of interest here is the feature €123,000 Grand Prix de la Sorec, 2400m (12f) for three-year-olds up. Entry is €600  by 31st October, free to declare. Also on the card is the €71,600 Grand Prix des Eleveurs for three-year-old fillies, over 1750m (8.75f) and the €61,600 Grand Prix des Proprietaires for three-year-old colts, over 1900m (9.5f). Casablanca-Anfa racecourse provides a children's area, entertainment and excellent facilities for visiting owners and trainers. The Cité du Cheval is the 87-hectare training centre on the outskirts of Casablanca, 15 minutes from Casablanca airport and 30 minutes from the racecourse, with 400 boxes, several training tracks, a farriery centre, two restaurants and a housing and catering area for staff.

International runners will have their flights, via the BBA, paid for, or up to €3,000 toward overland transport. Flights, hotel accommodation and all transfers are provided for two owners, the trainer and guest, and the jockey. Hospitality includes lunch at the racecourse on both days and dinner at the Gala Evening on Saturday.

As Dr Khan points out, “Another factor here is the ‘racing tourism’ element. The exotic location of these races provides an additional appeal for owners and trainers who want to soak up the fantastic experience of racing in different cultures.” 

Turkey

Turkey and its International festival on the first weekend of September at Veliefendi Racetrack, Istanbul, has for long been a popular destination, particularly for British trainers. Since Brexit, however, the issues involving a Third Country have deterred British runners, leaving the races more open for other European runners. What is instead happening is that two valuable €240,000 (£208,000) Group races have been wholly contested by locally-trained horses, the 2023 Bosphorus Cup attracting just five runners.

The International Bosphorus Cup has this year been downgraded to Group 3, but remains an attractive proposition. Run on turf over 2400m (12f), the €240,000 (£208,000) race is open to three-year-olds up. With the same prize money, the 1600m (8f) International Topkapi Trophy is another Group 3 for three-year-olds up that last year attracted no foreign runners. And the same applies to the fillies only Group 3 International Istanbul Trophy over 1600m (8f), worth €127,000 (£108,645).

Entry for the International meeting is by 2nd August, and a very generous travel subsidy is available to foreign runners, including $18,000 to horses arriving from the continents of America (North and South), Oceania, Africa and Far East countries. Up to €12,000 is available to European and UAE runners.

Sweden and Norway

Sweden’s 500-acre Bro Park has permanent stabling and training facilities, just over 30 minutes from the centre of Stockholm by car and a similar distance from Arlanda Airport. The two main international days are the Stockholm Cup day 15th September and the Stockholm Stora day 9th June, both branded as Super Sunday, during which the local 1000 and 2000 Guineas are also run. Run on turf at Bro Park, the Group 3 Stockholm Stora Pris is run over 1750m (8.75f) and worth €88,817 (£75,992), with a strong supporting card of the €29,309 (£25,000) Listed Bro Park Varsprint over 1200m (6f) and Listed Bloomers’ Vase 1600m (8f) for fillies, carrying the same value.

The Group 3 Stockholm Cup International over 2400m (12f) on turf carries prize money of €124,343 (£106,380) and the three supporting races each offer €58,619 (£50,151); the Listed Tattersalls Nickes Minneslöpning 1600m (8f) run on dirt, the Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship 1200m (6f) on turf, and the Listed Lanwades Stud Stakes 1600m (8f) on turf for fillies. Lanwades Stud also generously offers a free nomination to one of its stallions to the winner. The card also includes a 1400m (7f) two-year-old race on turf worth €36,859 (£31,534), the Svealandlopning. The other mentioned races are for three-year-olds up.

There are also interesting opportunities in Norway on Norsk Derby day 25th August at Oslo, as Director of Racing Liv Kristiansen tells us. ”Oslo offers a great range of both historic and modern hotels and restaurants and makes for a great long weekend with the Derby Day as a finale. The racecourse is just a 15-minute drive from the city centre and is home to most of the racehorses in Norway. On the day, there will be many runners from Denmark and Sweden as well.”

Kristiansen reminds us that it is prohibited to use the whip throughout all of Scandinavia, and in Norway jockeys are not allowed to carry a whip in races for three-year olds and older.

Germany

As an accompaniment to the familiar Pattern races in Germany, Deutscher Galopp Director of Racing Rüdiger Schmanns tells us, ”in general all races are open for foreign trained horses, even handicaps if the horses have a rating in the home country. We have good prize money options in handicaps on the so-called Premium Race Meetings, which are meetings on Sundays or Bank Holidays with at least a Group race on offer on that day. Handicaps of the best category are in total value of €20,000 (£17,103), the second best of €15,000 (£12,827), the third best of €10,000 (£8,551), and the lowest category of €8,000 (£6,841). At the Baden-Baden meetings there is usually one handicap of the day with higher prize money and in Bad Harzburg we have the so-called Super-Handicaps with exceptional prize money in the different categories, but they have an early closing stage at the beginning of April. Average prize money is the highest ever on offer in Germany at €14,200 (£12,143).”

France

Handicaps should also be on the radar in France, where France Galop is contributing heavily in the relaunch of the Quinté+ bet. As a result, the 13 Major Handicaps programme has been remodelled to restore appeal. Four Super Handicaps are now worth €100,000 (£85,519) and eight more have increased in value to €75,000 (£64139), with maximum runners raised to 20. The four €100,000 Super Handicaps cannot be on a Group 1 card and will be run on 7th April at ParisLongchamp 1400m (7f) four-year-olds up; 5th May ParisLongchamp 2000m (10f) four-year-olds up; 4th August Deauville 1600m (8f) three-year-olds up; and 8th September ParisLongchamp 1850m (9f) three-year-olds up.

The dates of the €75,000 Grands Handicaps, with a maximum of 18 runners, are 2nd June Chantilly 2400m (12f) four-year-olds up; 16th June Chantilly 1800m (9f) four-year-olds up; 15th August Deauville 1200m (6f) three-year-olds up; 18th August Deauville 1900m (9.5f) three-year-olds up; 5 October ParisLongchamp 1600m (8f) three-year-olds up; 5th October ParisLongchamp 2500m 12.5f) three-year-olds up; 6th October ParisLongchamp 1300m (6.5f) three-year-olds up; 6th October ParisLongchamp 2000m (10f) three-year-olds up.

Another shake-up comes in the reduction of entry fees for Group 1 races to revitalise entries, introducing a uniform entry price of 0.65% of prize value, with the exception of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Classic races. This lowers the entry fees for 15 Group 1 races, out of a total of 21. Trainers should note that entries have also been brought forward to earlier dates, now four weeks prior to the race.

Ireland

Horse Racing Ireland confirmed a record 395 fixtures for 2024, with an increase of €1.3m (£1.1m) in prize money, creating additional opportunities for horses at all levels. In addition, the final €1.4m (£1.2m) in capital schemes will be paid out for stableyard expansions (€0.3m) and racetrack and industry facility improvements (€1.1m), making it a more attractive proposal for visiting horses and team.

HRI, the Irish EBF and Gowran Park Racecourse have announced a significant boost to the three-year-old programme for middle-distance horses with a new Spring Series of median sires races, culminating in the €200,000 (£170,980) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, 2000m (10f), the richest race ever held at the County Kilkenny course, on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd June. The race is designed to attract three-year-old middle-distance horses with a median price of no more than €75,000 (£64,121). The winner will receive an automatic free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on 30th June. 

The series, with total prize money of €330,000 (£282,125), will consist of six races with a minimum prize-fund of €25,000 (£21,373) per race. The Curragh, Navan and Cork will host four maiden races between them, two for fillies only, and each of these races will be restricted to runners whose sires achieved a median price of not more than €50,000 (£42,747) in 2022. 

A median price of €75,000 (£64,121) will apply to runners in The Irish Stallions Farms EBF three-year-old Spring Series Race, with a value of €30,000 (£25,647) at Roscommon on 13 May. The same median price restriction will apply to runners in the €200,000 series Finale. 

Racecourse Manager Eddie Scally says, “Gowran Park are really excited to host the inaugural €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, the region’s richest Flat race. This race will form part of an action-packed day both on and off the track with live music and a massive family fun day. We hope the Gowran Classic will attract all the top trainers and riders from both Ireland and abroad and see for themselves the warm Kilkenny welcome.”

Irish Stallion Farms EBF already sponsor two successful series for two-year-olds, the auction and median series with 27 races in each and a combined value of nearly €850,000 (£726,712). ”We felt it important to develop a similar series for later developing middle-distance three-year-olds,” says Irish EBF Chairman Joe Foley, ”hence the Spring Series was initiated with the Gowran Classic as its centrepiece. We look forward to seeing this three-year-old series grow and develop and are delighted to support Gowran Park racecourse in particular, who are investing heavily in their facilities.”

 Curragh-based trainer Willie McCreery points out, “These races are designed to be linked to the median price of the stallion, which allows everyone to participate. It offers great opportunities for middle-distance horses that needed a bit of time to mature and gives them a big target to aim at. The prize money along with the ‘win and you’re in’ to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a super incentive.”

The new series consists of the 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden (Fillies) at the Curragh 6th April; 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden at Navan 9th April; the 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden at Navan 27th April; the 2000m (10f) €25,000 3yo Median Auction Maiden (Fillies) at Cork 10th May; the 2000m (10f) €30,000 3yo Median Auction Winners of 1 at Roscommon 30th May; and the Gowran Classic.

If tourism is the agenda, don’t forget Ireland’s only beach race meeting at Laytown, a small seaside resort just 46km (29 miles) from Dublin. The six-race card at Laytown races is held Monday 16th September 2024 with an average of €7,000 (£6,000) to the winner.

Britain

Last year saw the introduction of high value developmental races in Britain, a scheme the BHA has expanded for 2024. From 63, there are now 84 developmental races for the Flat season worth over €3.5m (£3m) in total prize money. The initiative has been made possible by British Stallion Studs (EBF), Juddmonte, Darley and Tattersalls, as well as the BHA Development Fund and is aimed at supporting the domestic breeding industry and encouraging the purchase of young talent in Britain. The races offer enhanced prize money to horses embarking on the early stages of their racing careers. 

Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer of the BHA, explains, “These races play a hugely important role within the race programme and yet, historically, it is an area where prize money has been behind our international competitors. It is essential that steps are taken to retain quality horses on our shores and with over 80 of these races scheduled for the coming season, this is one initiative that we believe will support this broader aim.”

The 2024 programme began with the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the 2024 Turf season, one of 60 such races for two-year-olds. It comprises 32 Open Novice/Maiden races for two-year-olds, worth a minimum of €46,789 (£40,000); 29 Restricted Novice/Maiden races for two-year-olds, worth a minimum of €35,091 (£30,000); and 23 Open Novice/Maiden races for three-year-olds up, worth a minimum of €46,789 (£40,000).

“British Stallion Studs (EBF) are delighted to be a leading sponsor of the 2024 High Value Developmental Race programme, with a contribution of over €380,172 (£325,000), covering more than 30 races,” says Simon Sweeting, Chairman of British Stallion Studs (EBF). “One of the unique features of our prize money contributions is to encourage racecourses to ‘match-fund’; it is wonderful to see the model we pioneered and embedded, replicated by our fellow sponsors in these races.”

The EBF remains the leading sponsor of European racing and Kerry Murphy, European Breeders Fund CEO, points out, ”The EBF was set up over 40 years ago primarily to tackle the threat of less prize money in two-year-old maidens. With £3.5m total prize money and over 80 high value two-year-old and three-year-old races worth at least £30,000 from the end of March to October, there will be opportunities for all types. It is a great credit to all involved and, of course, all the British stallion farms that contribute to the EBF, and I hope will give owners and purchasers at the yearling sales plenty of incentives.” 

The full race list can be seen at:  

https://ebfstallions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2024-Development-Race-List-public.pdf

A 20-minute drive from Stansted Airport, Chelmsford City offers some tempting opportunities for runners from abroad. Not least is the Cardinal Condition Stakes on Saturday 6th April, a Class 2 race that is the last stop of the European Road to The Kentucky Derby, a “win and you’re in”. Run over a mile (1600m) and restricted to three-year-olds, the race is worth £100,000 (€116,953), with the winning horse receiving 30 points, ensuring a place at Churchill Downs. Second through to fifth place receive 12, 9, 6 and 3 points respectively.

“Last year Bold Act won for Charlie Appleby and he has since won a Grade 3 at Keeneland. The runner-up was the Archie Watson-trained Brave Emperor, who had won twice here as a two-year-old and he followed up with a Group 3 win in Germany next time out. Brave Emperor has since added three more Group wins and has just won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, a local Group 2, at Doha. We are hopeful of seeing the Cardinal Condition Stakes upgraded to Listed status for next year, given the strength of the race,” says Neil Graham, Chelmsford City Racing Director.

Another imminent upgrade to hope for is the currently Listed Queen Charlotte Stakes over 7f (1400m) for fillies four-year-olds and up, run on Sunday 7th July, with prize money of £100,000 (€116,953). Graham points out, “Past winners include One Thousand Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook, Group 1 winner Highfield Princess and Soft Whisper, a subsequent Group 2 winner in Meydan. It comes a month before the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood and is good stepping stone, as Billesdon Brook showed. It is also Britain’s second-most valuable Listed race, behind only the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

The third of Chelmsford City’s feature races is the £80,000 (€93,595) Listed Chelmer Fillies Stakes over 6f (1200m) for three-year-old fillies, run Thursday 2nd May. “It’s a good option for the non-stayers and it’s a race that builds on quality year on year. Last year it was won by George Boughey’s Believing, who won a Group 3 at Chantilly on her next start,” says Graham.

“We work hard on promoting our feature races, which includes ensuring a high level of prize money, and we work closely with Adrian Beaumont at the International Racing Bureau to attract foreign runners. We look to offer travel incentives to runners from abroad and we consistently offer Class 6 prize money of £7,650 (€8,949) and £9,650 (€11,288) for Class 5 races, considerably more than any other All-Weather track in Britain. 

“We have 125 boxes built to the highest standard located in a quiet and secure yard, with ample room for parking and a fantastic team on hand. Paper or shavings are available.” 

“We are in the process of developing a Turf track for 2025 to open up further opportunities,” adds Graham, “and a month ago we were voted one of the Top 10 racecourses in Britain, which is a nice accolade to receive and a reflection of the excellent customer experience we offer.”

Overlooking the parade ring, the exclusive Owners and Trainers Bar provides a complimentary welcome drink and light refreshments. An additional facility for Owners and Trainers adjacent to the parade ring has a fully accessible glass-walled marquee and lawn, and there is also a dedicated viewing area in the main Grandstand, fully wheelchair accessible, for owners with runners on the day.

If it’s culture and tourism of most interest, a day at Ascot is always a highlight. This season, Ascot’s total prize money has risen to €20.4m (£17.5m) including Royal Ascot at €11.6m (£10m), with no Royal meeting race run for less than €128,688 (£110,000). Entry for Royal Ascot Group 1s is 30th April and for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 4th June.

Conditions for the Chesham Stakes (7f 2yo’s), traditionally run on the last day of the fixture, have been altered for 2024 - with horses no longer eligible to qualify via their dam’s performance. The race will return to a stallion only qualification as the race was prior to 2019 (sire must have won over 10f+).

Hannah Parlett, Owners and Trainers Manager, tells us, ”We have received an ROA Gold Standard again for our outstanding owners’ and trainers’ facilities here at Ascot, which include dining rooms overlooking the pre-parade ring in addition to a dedicated bar in the same area, along with a superb track facing facility. There are also two dedicated viewing areas.”  

Another ROA Gold Standard winner is Newbury, recognising Newbury’s continued efforts to enhance the on-course experience for owners. The OLBG Owners Club is close to the pre-parade ring beside the owners and trainers entrance. It is exclusively reserved for owners, with a private terrace. 

*Euro/Sterling rates Xe.com 07/03/2024

Point-to-Point racing and its role in developing jumpers

Article by Daragh Ó Conchúir

There has always been something special about a well organised point-to-point. 

It is social, in the truest sense. A communal gathering of like-minded people, with a love of rural pursuits and lifestyle.

It is racing at its purest too, founded on the genesis of steeplechasing in the Irish county of Cork in 1752. That was when Edmund Blake and Cornelius O’Callaghan chose to resolve which of them possessed the best steed by racing the four and a half miles from Buttevant Church to its Doneraile counterpart. Steeple to steeple, taking whatever route they saw fit and clearing whatever obstacle was in the way. Naturally, the money was down to increase the stakes.

Good horses often emerged from this sphere, with Tom Costello a legendary source of Gold Cup winners, but that wasn’t the raison d’être. Pointing was a leisurely pursuit. There was no competition for National Hunt trainers when it came to the acquisition of stores or younger jumping stock.

The landscape began to change with the introduction of an autumn point-to-point season by Irish authorities to make up for the fixtures lost by the outbreak of Foot And Mouth in 2001 but the last decade has seen an increasing commercialism that has altered the face not just of point-to-pointing, but of racing under Rules.

This has only accelerated by the reduction in availability of the good Flat handicappers, now flowing to jurisdictions such as Hong Kong and Australia with mammoth prize money justifying the eye-watering sums that National Hunt people could not justify.

There is always a risk with buying thoroughbreds but for end users, that is alleviated somewhat when there is form with proven depth. Of course there is a premium on that.

The results speak for themselves when it comes to the question of whether or not the sector is developing jumpers to a requisite level. Just look at the recently concluded Cheltenham Festival, where of the 27 races, nine were won by graduates of the point-to-point circuit – eight from Ireland and one from Britain. That latter success was in the point-to-point feature, the Foxhunter Chase, as Sine Nomine repelled the strong raiding challenge for Fiona Needham, her father Robin Tate and jockey John Dawson.

What is notable though is the high level of achievement. Of the other eight graduates from the point scene to score, five did so in Grade 1s: Slade Steel (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Ballyburn (Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle), Fact To File (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase), Jasmin De Vaux (Champion Bumper) and Stellar Story (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle). There was a clean sweep of placings by ex-pointers in the Brown Advisory and Albert Bartlett.

This is not anything like a one-off, of course. When Colin McKeever’s Loughanmore winner, Ballyburn, sauntered to a 13-length triumph in the Gallagher, he was the fourth alumnus of the sphere to land the spoils in that particular Grade 1 in five seasons. Slade Steel was the fourth to bag the Supreme in the same period. That’s Constitution Hill, Shishkin, Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger we’re talking about between the two.

There is depth in terms of the handlers producing these talents also. Donnchadh Doyle, whose brothers Seán and Cormac are established providers with the likes of Monkfish, Holywell and Bravemansgame included on the roll of honour, was the only provider to have multiple winners, having guided Fact To File and Stellar Story to successes at Bellharbour and Castlelands.

Apart from the aforementioned McKeever, Pierce Power, Colin Bowe, Euguene O’Sullivan, Stuart Crawford and Warren Ewing had the satisfaction of seeing former charges deliver on the biggest stage.

It is significant too that the octet won their maidens at eight different venues, illustrating the calibre of the tracks.

The growth in the sector and the unarguable evidence that this system is working is seen in figures provided by Irish point-to-point website, p2p.ie. If we take the past 15 completed jumps season from 2008/09 to 2022/2023, we see a progression from when graduates won 725 track races, eight of which were at Grade 1 level, to a stunning 1570 winners and 27 elite successes. The total number of black-type winners increases from 39 to 98.

Since 2015/16, the number of winners has only dropped below 1400 once, and that was in the Covid-impacted 2019/2020 term. 

While the number of winners has largely been consistent – 1718 in 2020/21 was a high-water mark – the quality continues on an upward climb, with 27 Grade 1s secured by Irish point products in two of the last three seasons with completed figures.

And that is why the prices continue to rise. The record for the most expensive point-to-pointer was set in November 2020, when JP McManus shelled out £570,000 for Jonbon at the Goffs UK Sale in Yorton after the full-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Douvan had cantered to a 15-length triumph for Ellmarie Holden, Paul Holden and Michael Shefflin.

At the Punchestown Festival Sale 12 months ago, it was a mare that attracted the biggest bonanza, as Mags O’Toole spent €500,000 on behalf of Brian Acheson’s Robcour ownership banner for Qualimita, who had dotted up in a Fairyhouse maiden by 30 lengths for Walter Connors and Bowe.

A highest price for a British filly pointer was set last May, when Saunton Surf was sold in May for £175,000 by Brad Gibbs to Warren Greatrex at the Goffs Spring Sale in Doncaster. 

That was matched last December, as Just A Rose was bought by Tom Malone, for British champion trainer Paul Nicholls, from Tom Ellis and breeders Sarah and Nigel Faulks. The same buying combination snapped up Will Biddick’s facile Badbury Rings victor, No Drama This End for £160,000 at the Cheltenham Festival Sale in March.

Meanwhile, Eddie O’Leary signed a chit for €265,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last June for a store that was heading in Gordon Elliott’s direction and in all, 33 horses sold for €100,000 or more at that auction, making it the third best result in Derby Sale history.

And remember, a Camelot half-brother to Altior realised a staggering €155,000 at the Tattersalls National Hunt Sale in November 2019, purchased by former Republic of Ireland soccer international Kevin Doyle from Coole House Farm on behalf of Paddy Behan Jnr. It was the highest price paid for a foal at the sale for 12 years and the third highest in its history.

While the most recent auctions might finally be suggesting a slight correction, Irish producer and trainer, Liz Doyle wasn’t far wrong when she described the point-to-point sector as ‘pandemic and recession-proof’.

Jerry McGrath is relatively new to the scene as a bloodstock agent, a role he took up upon his injury-enforced retirement at the beginning of 2022. But the Cork native had long been tasked by his boss Nicky Henderson with keeping an eye on the Irish point-to-point circuit during his time at Seven Barrows, during which he rode two Cheltenham Festival winners.

Love Envoi provided him with his first Cheltenham triumph as a buyer. Jango Baie is a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler this year and Jingko Blue is another youngster acquired from racing through the flags that has made a good transition to the track.

“It’s been well documented; it’s harder to get hold of these highly rated, staying flat horses now because there’s such a market for them abroad,” says McGrath. “Because that has happened it has narrowed where you get your jump horses from and I think that’s why maybe the point-to-point thing has come so strong. 

“Of course, it has been massively influenced by the point-to-point handlers themselves. I have the utmost respect for those lads. They go out there, they put their money on the line, they invest in horses that they like at the store sales. We’ve seen in the last three or four years, they’ve been outbidding plenty of trainers. 

“When you look at it like that, it sounds a bit bonkers that the point-to-point men are outbidding the end users, bearing in mind they have to prove the horse’s ability, with the hope  that the end user comes back and buys it as a winning point-to-pointer.”

This is why not every trainer is a fan, as they are now priced out of the market at both potential entry points –sales for stores and pointers. But in an open market, those willing to risk the most, make the most. The vital element to it all is the emergence of talented animals on a consistent basis.

The handlers are clearly discerning in their sourcing too. While there are fashionable stallions, the point graduates that delivered at Cheltenham came from a variety of sires: Flemensfirth (Ballyburn), Shantou (Stellar Story), Poliglote (Fact To File), Telescope (Slade Steel) and Tirwanako (Jasmin De Vaux) were the Grade 1 performers, while Gamut (Corbetts Cross), Milan (Better Days Ahead) and Saint Des Saints, whose three winners at the festival included Sine Nomine, completed the crop.

This is why McGrath’s priority is the model rather than the page, although pedigree has to be taken into account.

“You can have a potential superstar but if he’s a terrible mover, his longevity is going to be very short. It’s a bit like cheap speed, the two-year-old that’s going out very early. You might win a two-year-old maiden at the start of the year but will you be there at the end of the season competing in group races? Probably not. So you do have to have an athletic horse.

“Temperament definitely comes into it but at the same time, these are young horses, and their temperament can be managed, especially if they go into the right hands. If you’ve got a hot and buzzy horse, it doesn’t mean they’ll be hot and buzzy in two years’ time. 

“Athleticism and movement is the big thing for me. And you have to have a bit of pedigree. If they’re not bred to be a good racehorse, why would you be surprised they’re not a good racehorse?”

Pat Doyle is one of the enduring characters of the Irish point-to-point sector, having been among the pioneers for using it to sell four and five-year-olds with form before the likes of the Wexford crew of Bowe, Denis Murphy and the unrelated Doyle brothers raised the bar. He kept up with the evolution though and had at least ten graduates running at Cheltenham. The majority of them were trained by Mullins, which is no mean imprimatur.

It is 50 years this year since Doyle broke future dual Champion Hurdle winner Monksfield as a two-year-old. Later on, he pre-trained Minnehoma for his good friend Roddy O’Byrne to sell. Minnehoma followed Cheltenham success with a famous Grand National victory in 1994.

Bob Olinger, Appreciate It, First Lieutenant, Shattered Love, Colreevy, Readin Tommy Wrong, Bacardys, Commander Of Fleet, Champ Kiely and Brindisi Breeze are just some of the other Grade 1 and Cheltenham winners to have emerged from his academy.

The very latest off the production line, Ballycahane winner In The Age, sold at the Cheltenham Festival Sale for £100,000 to Ryan Mahon for the leading British trainer at the festival, Dan Skelton. The headline act at this boutique offering was the purchase of Echoing Silence by Peter Molony from Sam Curling and Correna Bowe for £410,000, to be trained by Henry de Bromhead. 

This sale has produced the last two Gold Cup runners-up, Bravemansgame and Gerri Colombe, while three of its graduates from the 2023 sale participated in the Champion Bumper this March, including the runner-up Romeo Coolio and third-placed Jalon D’Oudairies. 

“The biggest trick is selling them to good trainers,” Doyle relates. “I’ve been very, very lucky with Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead and fellas like that buying horses off me that turned out to be successful. I’m an open market for anyone to buy horses off but Willie Mullins (had) seven or eight horses I sold him running at Cheltenham.”

For a long time, Doyle and his fellow Irish handlers had this niche to themselves. The likes of Sophie and Tom Lacey were trading but the point-to-point arena remained Corinthian in spirit and action. 

The old traditions are gradually being cast off with the likes of Gold Cup runner-up Santini (Ed and Polly Walker) and Ahoy Senor (Melanie and Philip Rowley) having emerged and with handlers of the calibre of Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews, Bradley Gibbs, Fran and Charlie Poste, Josh Newman and Kayley Woollacott and Will Biddick in the vanguard of those guiding young talent.

Tom Lacey is now training under Rules, but having produced dual Champion Chase winner Energumene, Sebastapol (this pair won two divisions of the same open maiden at Larkhill in January 2018), Blackbow, Kimberlite Candy and the most expensive British pointer ever Interconnected (sold for £220,000 after winning at Larkhill in a month after Energumene and Sebastapol), remains an ardent advocate of the division on his native shore.

“I think it’s irreplaceable. I don’t believe there’s any better grounding for jumps horses than point-to-points,” Lacey states definitively.

“Ten years ago you could send a well-educated horse 80 per cent fit to an English point-to-point and you’d win it stylishly. Now you need to be well educated and be a 100% fit. There’s plenty of depth there now. There’s more and more people doing it and you’ve got plenty of good, sharp lads doing it.

“I think there’s still an element where the British point-to-point programme needs to be tweaked… For example, this is the time where your four-year-olds start coming to fruition. You know where you are with them, you’re ready to run and this weekend they’ve got a five-year-old and over maiden point-to-point. Well that’s just stupid.

“They have also introduced these point-to-point Flat races. The issue I have with those is they have diluted the maidens. They have taken away a lot of the young horses which would traditionally have run in a point-to-point. And now the people that don’t want to be commercial fiddle around for a season running around in these point-to-point Flat races and to be quite honest with you, they’re dirt. You won’t sell a horse out of one of them. They should never have been allowed to come in.”

Does it damage the reputation of the product?

“Yes it does. All of the boys operating on a commercial basis won’t entertain them. If you want to sell a horse, it needs to be able to jump 16 or 18 fences and do it nicely.”

McGrath has plenty of praise for the British scene.

“There is talent emerging and we’d love for it to be stronger again but sometimes, people struggle to get a grasp on the English form, whereas a lot of people know the Irish point-to-point handlers better, they know the tracks better and can get a better handle on the form but at the same time, it doesn’t mean that there’s not lots of good horses come out of English point-to-points.

“I think sometimes there can be a bit of value and when you are buying pointers, it is important to remember that it is budget driven and you don’t always have to shell out the big numbers to buy a good horse.”

Lacey and Doyle are in agreement about the importance of producing a racehorse over a sales horse. It is the only way to ensure longevity as a commercial entity.

“There’s no point trying to sell a mediocre horse for a lot of money ‘cos you’ll only ever do it once,” Lacey declares. “We had a horse won at Dingley Point-To-Point (by 16 lengths) called Space Safari. Bryan Drew was there that day and rang me up that evening and said, ‘What do you want for that horse?’ I said, ‘Bryan, I can’t sell him to you. Don’t ask me any more questions but I can’t sell him to you.’ And that was because I wanted him to come back and buy another one.”

“I don’t want to sell a bad horse,” is the Doyle mantra. “I had a few horses in Cheltenham at the (February) sale. They made good store prices, but I explained to the guys that bought them, ‘This is what these horses are capable of doing. They’re good horses. Are they Saturday horses? Maybe not, but they’ll win races.’”

When a vendor is known for this sort of honesty, buyers take note when he vouches for a horse. Doyle’s word was enough for Willie Mullins to acquire Appreciate It, Champ Kiely and Readin Tommy Wrong despite them failing to win their maidens but they are all Grade 1 victors now. 

And of course, Nicky Henderson bought Constitution Hill because of his respect for Warren Ewing and his former No 1 jockey Barry Geraghty, who had sold him future Gold Cup winner, Bobs Worth. Constitution Hill finished second in his point at Tipperary, after making a terrible mistake at the last. What’s more, the physical exertions left a toll. It was only the word of men he knew and trusted that maintained Henderson’s interest. As we know, the Blue Bresil seven-year-old has yet to lose a race on the track and sauntered to a Champion Hurdle success last year before illness ruled him out this time around.

Some horses are just slower developers. Grand National winner Corach Rambler, who ran a stormer to be third in the Gold Cup and is a short price to back up his Aintree heroics, took five attempts to win a point for John Walsh, finally getting his head in front in a six-year-old’s and older maiden at Monksgrange in September 2020. So a relationship and trust with the vendor is critical.

“A very good example was Love Envoi,” McGrath explains. “She didn’t show herself very well on the day and there was a minor vetting issue but Seán (Doyle) assured me it had not stopped her and it would have surprised him if it ever did cause an issue. We paid thirty-eight grand for her and she turned out to be a Cheltenham Festival winner, a multiple black-type filly and a Grade 1-placed filly. That was a perfect example of trust.”

It is noteworthy how often Mullins’ name crops up in the course of these discussions, reflective perhaps of his dominance. What is interesting is how often he gets his business done privately, via his agent, Harold Kirk, with Pierre Boulard his man on the ground in France when it comes to acquiring the talent emerging from French three and four-year-old hurdles. Lacey is adamant that this, more than anything else, is why he is the leviathan of jump racing.

“People say, ‘What’s Willie Mullins doing that allows him to get all these best horses?’”, the Cottage Field Stables conditioner begins.

“If you’ve got a good horse and you genuinely believe it’s a graded horse, if you ring Harold Kirk and say, ‘Harold, I’ve got one for you,’ he will say, ‘What do you want for it?’ You’ll name your price and he will say, ‘I’ll have it.’

“That is what Willie Mullins does differently. He doesn’t say, ‘I’ll come back to you in a week’s time.’ The vet’s there within the week and they just get the business done. They do not sit on the fence and allow horses to be sold from underneath them. That is one of the things he does that no one else does. They are so straightforward.

“He’s got Harold Kirk working from November onwards with all the point-to-point handlers working in Ireland, with the point-to-point handlers in England. He used to come over and see all mine before Christmas, see which ones he liked, asked me which ones I liked and if they did what I expected them to do, I rang him up and said, ‘Harold, you should buy that horse.’

“‘I’ll have it.’ 

“That’s what Willie Mullins does that no one else does.”

Horse Racing Ireland has intimated a willingness to develop a programme of bumpers and hurdles for three-year-old store horses, while there is a programme of junior NH hurdles in Britain, though for paltry prize money.

This comes on the back of the success of the French programme of three-year-old hurdles that is backed with significant prize money by France Galop and is producing major talent. The first of the year was held at Compiegne on March 5, with the connections of Willie De Houelle landing €27,140 for a four-length triumph, the total prize fund amounting to €59,000. 

The Beaumec De Houellle gelding is trained by Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, who also was responsible for the sire winning at Grade 1 level. His best graduate, however, is Galopin Des Champs, who won a four-year-old hurdle at Auteuil on debut before relocating to Ireland and becoming a two-time Gold Cup hero.

McGrath has a number of Gallic contacts and sourced the highly promising juvenile, Sir Gino for Henderson from an April maiden at Auteuil. He is a huge fan of a system that also produced the new Champion Hurdler, State Man.

Doyle has reservations about racing moving in this direction though concedes that he would get involved in two-year-old sales if they were to come on stream.

For his part, Lacey believes that this method, while suitable to French-breds, is not necessarily transferable.

“I’d be very old school,” says Lacey. “I think we are all expecting too much too soon from a lot of these young horses. The powers that be want us to follow the French model with Irish pedigrees. We’re breaking a lot of horses at two, turning them away, bringing them back at three and turning them away. They’re still not ready. I don’t know if it’s the breed or the way we produce them or the way we train them or what, but our horses just don’t come to hand like they do in France.”

And you have to do right by the horse.

“Course you have. But when Energumene was here, the ease with which he did everything was astonishing. The gulf between a good horse and a Grade 1 horse is vast. You see it on the gallops, it just floats everywhere. Everything is so effortless.”

He jokes that he had to buy a lot of stores to find that Grade 1 winner – to be fair, Energumene is a six-time Grade 1 winner – but that is the role the handlers play, taking on risk, filtering the wheat from the chaff. 

“They go out, they put their own money on the line, they buy these horses as three-year-olds, they take all the risk. They break them. They canter, they school, they gallop the horses, they run the horses in a short space of time. Ideally they like to sell them as four-year-olds, sometimes they carry over till they’re five-year-olds. The good ones go on and make a lot of money and a profit, but there’s an awful lot of horses don’t even see the track, they don’t make the grade. And there’s plenty ones aren’t as good as they want them to be and if they’re lucky, they wipe their faces with them. That’s why they need the big priced ones because they’re covering the cost of the ones we don’t see or hear about.”

High risk, high reward, providing the ultimate quality control service. 

Still special.

Have horse will travel - incentives to race in 2023

Article by Lissa Oliver

Fitness is one thing, but placing horses in suitable races to provide the best opportunity for them is quite possibly the trickiest part of a trainer’s role. It can be hard enough to search our own racing calendar for suitable races, and yet, delving further into international calendars could well pay dividends, if not in prize money then in adding valuable black type. Despite problems with travel, the racing world grows ever smaller, and it can certainly pay to shop around and look further afield. Many racecourses will offer travel incentives to encourage international participation, and the VIP experience for visiting owners will provide a lasting memory. 

France

Close to home and a regular destination for most European trainers, prize money in France rose to €278 million last year, up on 2021 by €30 million (+12%) and on 2019 by €20 million (7.75%). The 2023 France Galop budget includes a €10 million increase in prize money, with an objective to stimulate the number of young horses in training in France. 

As a result, 19 races at Parisian racecourses will see their total prize money raised to €50,000, paid out to the first seven finishers. The winner will earn €25,000, increased by 80% for two-year-olds if the winner is eligible for the owner's premium. The total sum of earnings to the winner could be €45,000. The selected 19 races take place throughout the year and include various distances. France Galop describes them as the most sought-after and competitive events for unraced horses in the French programme, with a consistent track record of producing a number of Group horses.

In the French provinces, two races for unraced horses have been selected to be included in this scheme. They are the Prix du Four à Chaux and the Prix Didier Vezia, which will be run in September at Bordeaux. Each race will offer a total prize money of €35,000; and the winner will earn €31,500 if eligible for the owner's premium. 

The increase in prize money has also been spread throughout maiden races, and races for unraced horses, across all of France. 

The new Arqana Series is also of interest to those racing in France - the sales company offering a series of races worth €1.2m (£1.06m), open only to the yearlings and foals offered at Arqana Sales in 2022 and the two-year-olds offered at the forthcoming Arqana May Breeze Up. The Arqana Series will consist of five races, for two-year-olds and three-year-olds (the latter run in 2024) on a Thursday evening during the prestigious Deauville meeting and on the Saturday of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend. Each race of the Arqana Series will reward both owners and vendors.

The juvenile races at Deauville will be run over 1400m (7f) for unraced horses and 1200m (6f) conditions, with a 2000m (10f) race in 2024 for three-year-olds. At ParisLongchamp, the two-year-old race will be a conditions race over 1600m (8f).

Of course, all races in France already carry a lucrative system of owners’ premiums on top of prize money. Two-year-olds and three-year-olds win an additional 80%, four and five-year-olds win an additional 55%, and six-year-olds and up receive an additional 45%. An additional 35% is paid to winners of Gp.1 races, whatever their age.

Germany

Deutsches Derby

Germany is still not yet back to the level of pre-Covid 2019, but significantly more prize money and bonuses were paid out in 2022 than in 2021 [€12.39m (£10.95m)], which will rise to €13m (£11.47m) in 2023. An increase of €2.15m (£1.90m) was recorded in prize money, and the average race value is higher than in previous years at €12,039/£10,651. The Deutsches Derby 2023 will be worth €650,000/£574,967, the Preis der Diana €500,000/£442,290, and the Grosser Preis von Baden worth €400,000/£ 353,985.

At smaller German tracks, the Harzburg meeting, 22–30 July, has significantly increased prize money for 2023, and the showcase handicaps carry €17,500/£15,475. The highlight of the meeting is the BBAG Auction Race worth €37,000/£32,683. "We want to support basic racing in particular," explains Racing Club President Stephan Ahrens, "because the costs of keeping horses have risen enormously. That is why we have increased the race values by up to 25%.” 

Scandinavia

Further afield for some, the full potential of Scandinavia has yet to be tapped, particularly the prize money on offer at Bro Park in Sweden. Bro Park covers 500 acres and has permanent stabling and training facilities, able to accommodate a further 100 horses on race days. The facilities provide the best possible environment for horses and those working with them. It is just over 30 minutes from the centre of Stockholm by car and a similar distance from Arlanda Airport.

Bro Park

Foreign raiders might be tempted by Sweden’s major race, the 2400m (12f) Gr3 Stockholm Cup for three-year-olds and up, at Bro Park on Sunday, 17 September—worth €125,825/£111,103. Earlier, on 11 June at Bro Park is the Gp.3 Stockholm Stora Pris, 1750m (8 1/2f) for three-year-olds and up— worth €89,882/£79,357. The Stockholm Cup card includes Sweden's most important two-year-old race, the 1400m (7f) Appel Au Maitre Svealandlöpning—worth €23,108/£20,424—and won by British trainer Archie Watson last year, who completed a double on the day.

On dirt, for three-year-olds and up, Jägersro hosts the 1750m (8 1/2f) Listed Pramms Memorial—worth €89,882/£79,357—21 May; the 2400m (12f) Svensk Derby—worth €223,869/£197,629,—16 July; and the €71,925/£63,509 Zawawi Cup over 1200m (6f), 16 July. Both Bro Park and Jägersro offer plenty of other opportunities at distances of 1200m (6f) up to 2400m (12f) with values ranging from €26,971/£23,809 up to €59,339/£52,386. 

In Norway, the 2400m (12f) Norsk Derby at Ovrevoll 20 August has a total value of €108,662/£96,067; and the 2400m (12f) Gp.3 Oslo Cup 15 June is worth €23,721/£20,973 to the winner. On 21 August, the Gp.3 Marit Sveaas Minnelop is run at Ovrevoll over 1800m (9f), carrying a first prize of €66,406/£58,724.

Let’s not forget Denmark, where the Gp.3 Scandinavian Open Championship for three-year-olds and up, over 2400m (12f) at Klampenborg on 27 May, is worth €57,545/£50,903, and a first prize of €31,967/£28,280. 

Spain

While there may not be high levels of prize money to chase on a regular basis in Spain, it is worth noting the major prizes in the Spanish calendar. The Listed Gran Premio de Madrid over 2500m (12 1/2f) at the end of June, for three-year-olds and up, is the major summer highlight, worth €68,000/£60,068 (€40,000/£35,330 to the winner; €16,000/£14,132 to the second; €8,000/£7,065 to the third; and €4,000/£3,532 to the fourth). 

In 2023, it will be run on Saturday, 24 June and is supported on the card by the Premio Baldoria for three-year-olds and older fillies and mares: over 1600m (8f), worth €15,000/£13,247 to the winner; €6,000/£5,299 to the second; €3,000/£2,649 to the third; and €1,500/£1,324 to the fourth.

August at San Sebastián sees the 1500m (7 1/2f) Premio Santander Cup (Criterium International) for two-year-olds, with prize money of €40,800/£36,018. The €59,500/£52,532 Gran Premio Copa De Oro De San Sebastián, over 2400m for three-year-olds and up, is the meeting highlight, worth €35,000/£30,900 to the winner; in addition to an impressive gold cup, €14,000/£12,360 goes to the second, €7,000/£6,180 to the third and €3,500/£3,090 to the fourth. On the supporting card is the Gran Premio Turismo Gobierno Vasco, 1600m (8f) for three-year-olds and up with a total prize of €40,800/£36,018. 

On Sunday, 15 October, the highlight of the Spanish season will be Champions Day, with a card that includes the Gran Premio Memorial Duque de Toledo over 2400m (12f) for three-year-olds and up, with a value of €68,000/£60,068 (€40,000/£35,330 to the winner, €16,000/£14,132 to the second, €8,000/£7,065 to the third and €4,000/£3,532 to the fourth). Also run on the day is the Gran Premio Ruban over 1200m (6f) worth €40,800/£36,018, with the winner taking home €24,000/£21,191, down to €2,400/£2,119 for fourth. A strong supporting card boasts lucrative added premiums of €5,000 for Spanish-breds.

Belgium

There are also opportunities for an average rated horse closer to home for some, in Belgium. As in Spain, the prize money might not be eye-catching, but neither is the competitiveness in comparison to similar races at home. The showpiece is the Prix Prince Rose, a National Listed Race over 2100m (10 1/2f) run at Ostend on Monday, 7 August with total prize money of €12,800/£11,304, with €8,000/£7,065 to the winner. The Prix Prince Rose is open to three-year-olds and older who have never been placed in the first five of a Pattern race. 
Ostend also hosts three interesting conditions races in July and August: the Miler Cup, 1600m (8f); the Prijs Half Oogst and BFG Galop, 1800m (9f); and the Prijs BFG and Nymphenburger, 2200m (11f)—each with a total prize money of €8,000/£7,065, with €5,000/£4,416 for the winner. They are for four-year-olds and older without a handicap value or a value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs). Penalties for prize money received for wins and places since 1 July 2023 are 1kg per €1,000. There is also the UAE Sprint Cup Handicap over 1000m (5f) in August for four-year-olds and older with a handicap value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs). See the complete list of races and conditions here: www.bgalopf.be/Meetings.htm

Britain

In Britain, the BHA, Darley and Juddmonte have come together to sponsor a high-value developmental races series of 60 races, also supported in funding by host racecourses, offering increased prize money to horses at the start of their career. As with the French developmental programme, the hope is that they will be retained to race in Britain going forward. The BHA hopes to expand on the idea of increasing the values of Flat maidens and novice races in 2024 and long-term. 

There will be 20 two-year-old restricted maiden and novice races worth €33,975/£30,000, supported by Juddmonte; 21 two-year-old open maiden and novice races worth €33,975/£30,000, supported by the BHA Development Fund; and 22 three-year-old and up open maiden and novice races worth €33,975–€56,626 (£30,000–£50,000), supported by Darley and the BHA Development Fund. The €56,626/£50,000 races will be run over longer distances to support middle-distance and staying horses.

Elsewhere in Britain, Newbury, having been infamously boycotted by trainers for one of its flat races last year, will see a 16% prize money increase this year, taking overall levels at the track to just over €6.79m/£6m. Newbury will host six novice and maiden races during the Flat season with prize money of €33,975 up to €56,626 (£30,000–£50,000).

The Racing League also returns for 2023, in which seven teams compete in 42 races over six meetings for over €2.2m/£2m prize money. The meetings for 2023 are Yarmouth 27 July, Chepstow 10 August, Windsor 17 August, Newcastle 31 August, Wolverhampton 7 September and Southwell 13 September. All races are handicaps with a range of ratings bands and distances, with normal BHA distribution for race prize money.

As with Arqana, British racing is boosted by the sponsorship of sales company Tattersalls, targeting yearlings purchased at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, who will be eligible for the 1200m (6f) €112,826/£100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes run at Newmarket 26 August, as well as the 1200m (6f) €169,242/£150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes, Newmarket 5 October.

Charlie Appleby-trained Regal Honour broke his maiden in the 2022 Stephen Rowley Remembered Novice Stakes at Newmarket to collect the 312th £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus.

The Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes, 1200m (6f) on 24 August at York carries a guaranteed minimum value of €394,092/£350,000, for two-years-olds sold at the 2022 Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale.

Tattersalls also offer the €22,684/£20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme for 2023. Participating owners will receive a €22,684/£20,000 bonus if their 2022 October Book 1 purchase wins a Class 2, 3 or 4 two-year-old maiden or novice race in Britain between 1 April and 11 November 2023, or any 'Open' two-year-old maiden run in Ireland between 25 March and 5 November 2023. The cost to enter the €22,684/£20,000 Tattersalls October ‘Book 1 Bonus’ Scheme is €1,928/£1,700, and there are over 300 qualifying British and Irish two-year-old maiden and novice races. All yearlings sold, bought in or failing to meet their reserve at Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are eligible.

Ireland 

Tattersalls are also major sponsors in Ireland, with the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes of €300,000/£265,889, worth €150,000/£132,942 to the winner and prize money of at least €5,000/£4,431 down to 10th. Over 1200m (6f) at the Curragh, it is of course limited to those yearlings sold at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale in November 2022.

Tattersalls also continues to support the first two Irish Classics and Gp.1 Tattersalls Gold, as well as enhanced owners’ and trainers’ facilities at the Curragh. The Irish 1000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas will each have prize money of €500,000/£443,081, while the Tattersalls Gold Cup will increase in value to €450,000/£398,754.

Goffs also continue to be major sponsors in Ireland, supporting premier National Hunt and Flat races. The Goffs Sportsman Challenge Day at Naas, 14 September 2023, will be a mid-week all juvenile card featuring the 1200m (6f) €100,000/£88,653 Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge, a two-year-old race exclusive to yearlings purchased at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale. Prize money also goes to the first 10 finishers.

Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the 1400m (7f) Goffs Million, run at the Curragh 23 September 2023, is for graduates of the Goffs Orby Sale (2022)  and is worth €500,000/£443,081 to the winner, down to €10,000/£8,869 for 10th.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) saw a number of restorations to prize money levels last year and an increase in funding for the IRE Incentive Scheme for breeders, which grew from €1.1m (£0.97m) paid out in 2021 as vouchers to be spent on Irish-bred horses at Irish sales, to €1.3m (£1.14m) last year. It will again provide €1.3m (£1.14m) in vouchers for 2023.

HRI’s commitment to ensuring the quality of racing is also extended to grassroots level, with a targeted increase of €1.7m (£1.5m) to prize money levels, bringing 2023 to €68.6m (+2.5%) (£60.58m).

“Prize money is a key enabler in building and maintaining the number of quality horses in training in Ireland,” says Suzanne Eade, chief executive of HRI. “Approximately 70% of horses competing [in Ireland] receive some prize money, so it is important that we prioritise its growth…in order to sustain the significant rural jobs created by the industry.” 

European Breeders’ Fund

Throughout Europe, the European Breeders Fund (EBF), with national representation in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, continues to be one of the largest sponsors of races. Only the progeny of EBF registered stallions and horses nominated to the EBF can enter these races, but of course they are free to run in any EBF race throughout Europe.

The European Breeders’ Fund celebrates its 40 th year of operation in 2023 and in that time has contributed over €130m to prize money throughout Europe. The emphasis is on the two-year-old programme and fillies races, and there are valuable opportunities to be found. The EBF regularly reviews where the funds are best directed and is a vital support to both racing and bloodstock industries.

Highlights of the EBF support in 2023:

Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes €200,000 minimum at Naas, August

British EBF 2yo series £100,000 finals at Goodwood and York, September and October

Criterium FEE €130,000 Deauville, August

Italy is recovering from difficult times and this season there will be four EBF-sponsored races with an added €2,000/£1,766 to the winner if EBF qualified.

In France, the EBF (FEE) will pay out over €1m into prize money, with over €200,000 in premiums for fillies Listed Races, and over €500,000 for two and three-year-old maidens, debutants and conditions races in both Paris and the regions.

The British EBF will in 2023 invest around €2.27m (£2m) for both Flat and National Hunt and the Irish EBF current investment has increased from €2.6m (£2.25m) to €2.7m (£2.38m), making Irish Stallion Farms EBF the largest sponsor of racing in Ireland. This year all Listed Fillies races in Ireland will be sponsored by Irish EBF and will run for a minimum of €50,000/£44,000 and all other Listed races will run for a minimum of €40,000/£35,000. Highlights include the 26-race Median Sires Series, each worth a minimum €25,000/£22,000, for horses by a sire with a median fee of €75,000/£66,045 or less. The €200,000/£177,506 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes has the same conditions and is the showcase, run over 1000m (5f) at Naas 7 August. The 24-race Irish EBF Auction Series for two-year-olds worth a minimum €20,000/£17,750 each has two finals, worth €120,000/£10,5672. Horses must have been bought at auction for €72,000/£63,403 or less.

*Euros converted to sterling at XE rate 03/03/2023

Investing in All Weather racing

Article by Catrin Nack

The European ‘all-weather’ racing scene has come a long way since racing on an artificial (non-turf) surface was first introduced in the UK at Lingfield Park in 1989. Today, ‘all-weather’ racing accounts for 23% of the French racing programme; and in the UK, racing has recently benefited from a major ‘all-weather’ prize money boost.

‘All-weather’ racing is enhancing the opportunities for those connections wishing to keep horses in training across Europe over the winter months.

But what are opportunities like on a country by country basis? Which countries are investing in ‘all-weather’ racing?

France 

While trotting is still the main racing sphere by some way in France – and all their racing is on dirt tracks – all-weather in France has been gathering momentum for over a decade now. Of roughly 5,000 races run in France in 2021, 1,149 were staged on an all-weather surface, thus comprising some 23% of the race program. 

Prestigious tracks such as Deauville and Chantilly have all-weather circuits; in total there are seven all-weather tracks in the country: Deauville, Chantilly, Pornichet, Lyon-la-Soie, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Pau and Marseille-Vivaux.

In contrast to other racing nations, where usually the whole raceday will take place on one surface, French tracks have mixed cards and use the all-weather (all with a Polytrack surface) in summer also.

While diversifying the programme, it also takes pressure off the grass tracks, with rising temperatures in southern Europe providing new challenges in turf maintenance. French racing has eight Listed races run on its all-weather surfaces, Cagnes-Sur-Mer stage two, Chantilly one and five at Deauville. A review to enhance the Black-type programme is on the way, but plans are in the very early stages. French tracks are part of the All-Weather Championships programme to qualify for the finals on Good Friday in the UK – something French raiders did to good effect in 2022. 

French racing receives the majority of its income – read prize money – from its betting turnover, as the PMU (the French Tote) has a monopoly on betting. The rise in all-weather racing has naturally seen a rise in betting turnover in this sphere – roughly 18% of all PMU-flat races are run on the all-weather circuit. Recent results suggest that the betting public is gradually switching from traditional jump-races to all-weather racing. 

According to Adrien Cugnasse, all-weather racing also caters well for a new type of owner. With syndicates still very scarce in France, a new type of ‘middle class’ owner has been emerging over the last couple of years – much needed new blood, but a type of owner that relies on a more regular income through prize money. 

UK

It's Year 10 since the creation of Arena Racing Company (ARC) backed All-Weather Championships, and racing on this surface does continue to increase in volume. Six racecourses in Britain stage all-weather racing, on either Polytrack (Lingfield, Kempton, Chelmsford) or Tapeta (Newcastle, Southwell, Wolverhampton); roughly one fifth of all flat races are now on a synthetic surface.  

Huge investments have been made by the operator ARC across their four all-weather racecourses to improve the surface. With Southwell being the latest course to convert to a Tapeta surface (from Fibresand).

Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s Racing Division says that “changing the surface, particularly at Southwell, was the right thing to do and the feedback from trainers and owners has been very positive so far.” 

The creation of the All-Weather Championships 10 years ago can only be viewed as a major success story; the series now incorporates races from Ireland, France, Dubai and even races in Saudi Arabia, as well as the enhanced Fast-Track-Qualifying system. 

The switch of Finals day from Lingfield to Newcastle two years ago was followed by the creation of “All-Weather Vase Day” at Lingfield Park last year, also staged on Good Friday. 

A day that traditionally saw no racing at all now has two high-profile all-weather meetings taking place – a definite illustration of the rise of racing on this surface. Along with geographically diverse racing in the north and the south, All-Weather Vase Day naturally comes with added prize money, the whole raceday is worth around £390,000. 

No fast-track-qualifying here, but at least three runs are needed akin to Finals Day, thus creating additional incentive to run on the all-weather. Even the quickest of glances at any given fixture list on the all-weather does reveal the extent to which these races are contested now; with even the choicest-bred horses from big yards coming under starters orders. 

While headline names to race synthetic surface will forever include the mighty Enable and Stradivarius, Godolphin recently raced a half-brother to Guineas hero Coroebus to name just one. Tracks learn about the adaptability of the surface all the time, with the recent extreme temperatures providing a new challenge. “Without all-weather racing, there wouldn’t have been any racing in the recent cold snap,” remarks Mark Spincer.

2022 saw two ARC initiatives to increase the quality of racing their tracks, one of those aimed specifically for (winter) all-weather racing. The mother company of Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton announced a further bonus of over £1,000,000 not just added to prize money, but to reward connections of the most consistent performers during the winter months. 

“While it is early days, some eagle-eyed trainers have already seen the chance to bag a bonus, of course we would love to attract more horses and their connections to our four all-weather tracks. We know that, for many, jump-racing is the winter focus in the UK, but all-weather racing during this period has a wide fan base both domestically and abroad,” concludes Spincer.

Coinciding with the exact timeframe of the All-Weather Championships, the bonus aims to reward consistency in given periods, no matter what the rating of the horse. Points scored go towards a “Horse of the Month” prize with rising extra money paid out from February onwards as well as £700,000 in bonuses for the horses with the most points at the end of the season.

The scheme clearly aims to enhance field sizes. Giving trainers, owners, jockeys as well as stable staff monetary reasons to race on at ARC tracks. 

Germany

Germany's all-weather racing scene was quite vibrant at the end of the last century, but it has been in steady decline for some time now. 

In 2019, Neuss racecourse closed its doors for the last time, and along with 144 years of turf racing went the second of the all-weather tracks. 

Winter racing is now taking place at Dortmund racecourse only. Dortmund has a grass and an all-weather track, thus providing racing literally all year round. 

However, the all-weather surface is a dirt track, Germany does not have any tracks with an artificial surface. The surface has not been renewed for some time now and has a huge kickback. 

Racing takes place on roughly 14-day intervals, at time of writing eight meetings are planned this winter. Races are part of the French PMU funding and receive other subsidiaries. Generally, there are six-race-cards, the quality being no better than class 3 handicaps – Germany's second lowest class, with some sellers thrown in for good measure. 

Prize money is at basic level for these types of races, meaning total purses per race do not exceed €5.500. Broadly speaking, all-weather racing in Germany caters for the very base level of the sport, with major trainers and owners very rarely venturing into this sphere.

Racing on the sand does count towards the Trainer and Jockey Championships in Germany, and this might lure the odd runner from the bigger stables. Plans for a second track with a synthetic surface have been mulled over by Deutscher Galopp for some time, but along with the general dire financial situation of racing in Germany, it remains only a very distant possibility at the moment. 

Ireland

All-weather racing finally reached Ireland in 2007 with the remodelling and re-opening of Dundalk Stadium. It’s the only track in Europe to combine horses and dog-racing and judging by online reviews. This has been a huge success with fun-loving Dubliners. 

From October till March, the track stages some 43 meetings, with at least once a week racing – mainly on a Friday night with floodlight and dog-racing following. Racing on the Polytrack continues sporadically throughout the year. 

While the quality of handicaps is clearly not premium class, the track does stage a fair share of quite decent 2yo and 3yo maiden races, and these are contested by even the biggest yards in the country.

In addition, Dundalk stages two Gp.3 and three Listed races. Plans for the second Irish all-weather track have been developing for a number of years now, with planning permission for a new track at Tipperary expected to go ahead in early 2023. 

This clearly points to an ever-increasing demand to stage flat racing all year round, largely independent from weather influences. In fact, many races on Dundalk's cards continue to be oversubscribed and operate with reserves – a further pointer to huge demand. 

Smaller yards definitely target horses for Dundalk races and have owners who buy horses for this sphere. While larger yards may pick and choose their races at Dundalk, smaller trainers rely on the extra income to keep the yard going through the long winter months. 

As jump-racing starts losing its tag of catering for the ‘small man,’ the domination of just a few trainers and owners is becoming more and more blatant by the year. All-weather racing gives a different type of trainer and owner a new lease of racing life. 

With added entertainment around the product, Dundalk has created a largely vibrant scene; being in a prime spot no doubt helps, but all-weather racing with regular consistency is clearly a success story in Irish racing. 

How will new HISA regulations affect Europeans sending horses to the US this autumn?

Article by Annie Lambert

Breeders’ Cup contestants travelling to Kentucky this fall will have more to worry about than flight delays and shipping reservations. Owners, trainers and jockeys will need to bone up on new racing regulations now enforced across America. It appears they are well into that task.

The new rules and regulations became United States federal law in December 2020. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is responsible for drafting and enforcing safety and integrity rules in thoroughbred racing across the U.S. Overseen by the government’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing a national, uniform set of rules applicable to all thoroughbred racing participants and racetrack facilities.

HISA comprises the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect 1 July 2022, as well as the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program, which will be implemented in January 2023. The ADMC will impact next year’s Breeders’ Cup.

According to Lisa Lazarus, chief executive officer of HISA, the Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards, seeking to enhance equine welfare and minimise horse and jockey injuries. This program expands veterinary oversight and imposes track surface maintenance and testing requirements. It also enhances jockey (and exercise rider) safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, in addition to other measures.

The ADMC program will create a centralised testing and results management process while applying uniform penalties for integrity violations across the country. The rules and enforcement protocols will be administered by a new independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), which was established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS).

HIWU will oversee testing, educate stakeholders on the new system, accredit laboratories, investigate potential integrity violations and prosecute those breaking rules and protocols.

HISA completed and pending rules and regulations can be found at https://www.hisaus.org/.

Shifting protocols

Not everyone required to opt into the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act is pleased to oblige. The confusing regulations have left many with less than a clear understanding of what the new rules actually mean. Those details have constantly been modified and most likely will continue to fluctuate as flaws in the statute are arbitrated. 

The legislation timeline—a very rapid implementation—did not leave an abundance of time for the busy and independent members of the racing community to thoroughly digest the new rules and oversights: In a hurry, they are being asked/required to become obligated by registering themselves and their horses. Horsemen felt left in the dust.

HISA is now, however, in the process of adding a means for horsemen to have a bigger voice in forming regulations and protocols—a complaint horsemen have had since the onset is being excluded from the process. Lazarus announced her executive team would be selecting 10–12 horsemen to participate on the Horsemen’s Advisory Group.

Barry Irwin, founder and chief executive officer of Team Valor International, has been promoting additional integrity in the racing industry for two decades or longer. As a turf writer, breeder, owner and bloodstock agent for over 50 years, Irwin looks forward to implementation of the ADMC. He might have hoped for a smoother execution of HISA, but he is glad things are progressing.

“The safety element is so big and all encompassing, some people may think overreaching, that it stalled the implementation of the integrity piece,” Irwin opined. “There is a lot of good in it; there is a lot of confusion in it. Part of the confusion stems from the perceived lack of input and influence of the people to whom these rules apply.

“A lot of trainers are [unhappy] because there are a bunch of [changed] procedures that they have been using for years, such as blistering horses, pin-firing horses—things like that. There are growing pains, so they have invited horsemen to join an advisory committee for input now and in the future, which I found to be a good thing. It’s just a little late.”  

People responsible for registering horses, usually the trainer, are required to keep precise records for each animal. Most horsemen have a vivid aversion to bookkeeping; they’d much rather concentrate on training horses and keeping owners happy and informed.

Most countries require medical and procedural records be kept on their equine competitors. HISA also requires trainers and veterinarians to maintain detailed, daily health and treatment records for equines in their care. This also applies to international trainers temporarily in town for major races. Those records must be made available to regulatory veterinarians, stewards and HISA upon request. Imagine the daily hours to keep up with a barn full of trainees. There is a solution—a software program—to ease the struggle.

Solution for keeping records

Equine MediRecord became operational in 2018. It was the brainstorm of Pierce Dargan in County Kildare, Ireland. Dargan, a fifth generation horseman, is the company’s CEO. Dargan’s system was created for his family’s training operation in Ireland, to help keep current with racing regulations they faced at the time. 

Trainers can sign up for Dargan’s company platform, which allows them to keep the tedious records required by HISA. Those with multiple stables and facilities can add assistant trainers and veterinarians to assist with inputting information.

“What our system then does is notify the trainer when a record has been put in by someone else for them to sign off, ensuring they know at all times what is being given to their horses,” Dargan explained. “Any horse with an open treatment on our system will [be marked] to remind the trainer to check this horse before entering into any races, as there is still a treatment in the horse’s profile; this ensures the withdrawal period is completed before they race.”

Presently, the cost is $1.50 per horse, per month for the initial year, increasing to $3.00 per horse/month the second year. “We wanted to make sure this was a tool that all trainers, big and small, could afford,” Dargan said. “One of the benefits of having clients globally is we can spread the costs, making it cheaper for all.”

 “We have done the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the last two years, as well as the Pegasus World Cup, Saudi Cup and Preakness in 2022,” Dargan pointed out.                    

Coming to America

International Breeders’ Cup entries and connections appear prepared to take on HISA, although there could be a few speed bumps on the road to America.

Not registering for HISA—no matter what continent you hail from—means a person or horse may not participate in U.S. racing. Once signed up, however, being misinformed or not following the rules can land people and equines severe punishments, large monetary fines and/or disqualification from industry participation.

Early in the process, HISA’s website was not particularly user friendly, but those issues have been worked out for the most part. International connections preparing to run in major U.S. races initially registered with HISA prior to entering or declaring to run. However, to register for HISA, one needs to be licensed in the state where they will be running. Some states, like New York, require digital fingerprinting of the licensee by track personnel, causing problems for horsemen in far away corners of the world.
“HISA has made it impossible to do things on race day,” explained Adrian Beaumont, director of Racecourse Services for the International Racing Bureau in Newmarket, England. “Therefore, we had to be proactive and get connections licensed beforehand. This often means having to get connections fingerprinted in advance of the meeting. This was especially true of connections, like owners, who would not be going to the races but still needed a HISA registration. New York Racing Association made their cut-off time for HISA as 10 a.m., scratch time, on the day of the race.”

According to Beaumont, HISA’s Lisa Lazarus organised a Zoom call, for Breeders’ Cup principles, including Japan, on 16 September. “I will be interested to know the timeframe they will require all HISA registrations to be completed by, especially as declarations to run are due on Monday, October 31,” added Beaumont.

While the Lazarus Zoom call may flatten some organisational speed bumps, the initial dismay for HISA created a flurry of ongoing legal actions by several state racing commissions, jockey organisations, different Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective associations and other groups. North American Trainer magazine contributor and equine attorney Peter J. Sacopulos expressed the issue in the magazine’s Issue #65 - Summer 2022, on page 48. In the article, Sacopulos questions how HISA affects international trainers and owners.

“In registering, the foreign national trainer is responsible for and obligated to fully and completely understand and comply with all HISA requirements. Once properly registered and deemed a ‘covered person,’ the foreign national trainer has certain ongoing obligations. For example, Thoroughbred trainers are required to complete four (4) hours of training annually pursuant to Section 2182(b)(5) of the rules governing the Racetrack Safety Program. Additionally, there are requirements for filing records relative to the medical care and treatment of horses. Also, the licensing and ongoing requirements for covered persons apply to owners of Thoroughbred horses. Therefore, it is recommended that the Thoroughbred trainer who is going through the registration process informs his or her owner of those requirements and sees that the owner(s) are properly registered as covered persons.”

It gets complicated.

Riders, whips, rules & penalties 

Beaumont was somewhat surprised by the requirement for jockeys to have an annual baseline concussion test as part of the HISA registration. Riders in England and Ireland have concussion baselines done every two years. French jockeys are not required to have annual baseline concussion tests.

The chief medical officers at the main European Jockey Clubs and the Jockeys’ Associations are now aware of this test requirement. Beaumont recommended their website as informative and helpful. 

https://jockeyclub.com/pdfs/HISA/HISA_Jockey.pdf

“It is the jockeys [who] require the extra briefing about all the rules,” Beaumont said, “but we will do that with them all before race day. “At the last two Breeders’ Cups, the stewards have also briefed all the jockeys about their rules on the mornings of the races. This will obviously now include any extra regulations brought in by HISA.”

Jockeys with Breeders’ Cup mounts will need to study HISA restrictions for use of the whip, which in some cases are similar to, yet vary from, European rules.

Until the limitations on use of the whip become muscle memory, riders are finding themselves punished for extra strikes or improper handling of the whip. Numerous penalties have been dished out to even the best of the American riding colony thus far. One costly example occurred last month.

Jockey Luis Rodriguez-Castro was fined $500 and suspended three days for his ride on Drafted (Field Commission) while finishing fifth in the Forego (Gr. 1) at Saratoga in New York. The rider’s violation was striking Drafted with the whip ten times during the race. HISA rules allow only six strikes during a race; Rodriguez-Castro’s four strike overage cost the horse’s connections $26,000 in purse money.

But Germany and other European nations are also inflicting stringent rules on riders who are overly aggressive with crop use. 

German-bred Torquator Tasso, winner of last year’s Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gp. 1), finished a near second to Mendocino in Baden-Baden, Germany. Jockey Frankie Dettori felt the sting of striking his mount one time too many with a 14-day suspension.

Strict German whip rules permit for the crop to be used only five times during a race, with the use of it down the shoulder with hands on the reins still considered as one strike.

Team Valor International races horses in Germany, and Barry Irwin voiced respect for their programs in general and regard for their accomplishments with smaller thoroughbred crops of 750 to 800 foals; Torquator Tasso is an example.

“[Germany] has a lot of rules, and they are different from England, Ireland and France,” Irwin said. “You can’t use a tongue tie, for example. I don’t know any other jurisdiction that does that. They are very good at testing, and they have a lot of rules about bleeders.”

Handling and properly holding the whip have become strict and exacting in many racing nations. A BHA steering group has proposed 20 changes to their current whip rules in four areas—how the whip is used, changes to regulation, changes to enforcement, plus other recommendations. (See sidebar)

“Most of our jurisdictions are run as tightly, if not more tightly, than your new HISA rules over in the states,” Beaumont pointed out. In some countries, such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden, whips are banned. Most other countries have strict rules on the use of the whip in terms of how many times a horse can be hit and where they can be hit.”

“The new rules, which are likely to come into force with BHA, include using [the whip] in the backhand position only,” he added. “There are examples every week of jockeys getting fined and banned for use of the whip, and generally longer suspensions than in the states.”

Nation-to-nation compatibility?

HISA regulations overall are not so dissimilar from other international edicts. There are so many variables, geographically for one, that synchronising worldwide regulations may never come to fruition. But, it’s a thought for the future.

When the ADMC portion of HISA kicks into gear the first of next year, there will likely be even more details to be digested by horsemen and other stakeholders. After all, that was the initial consideration when seeking reforms.

Irwin has “great hope” that those marring the integrity of thoroughbred racing will be prosecuted and severely penalised, and that the punishments will be severe enough to stop the cheating.

“As for the Anti-Doping and Medication Control regulations for 2023, I await their details,” said Beaumont. “Of course, we are already subject to strict restrictions over here, so this should not be an issue. Every horse shipping to run at Breeders’ Cup, for example, will already have done an out-of-competition test sanctioned by the state governing body and carried out by the likes of BHA on their behalf.

“They have a tough task,” Irwin said of HISA. “There are so many elements, groups to try to appeal to—it is a tough job.”

HOW THE WHIP SHOULD BE USED

1. Use of the whip for safety purposes should continue to be a fundamental principle of regulation.

2. The Rule requiring the whip to be carried (though not necessarily used) should be retained.

3. Use of the ProCush whip should continue to be permitted for encouragement, with strong and appropriate regulation for its use.

4. The whip rules will be amended to restrict use for encouragement to the backhand position only.

5. Harmonisation of whip rules and penalties is a positive aspiration. The BHA should continue to play a leading role in discussions about harmonisation with its international counterparts, particularly Ireland and France.

CHANGES TO REGULATION

1. The regulatory approach to the whip should be reframed to drive continuous improvement, both in standards of whip use and in the consistency of stewarding.

2. Official guidance notes relating to some aspects of the whip rules should be refined and improved, so they are less ambiguous and open to interpretation, and to ensure greater consistency in the enforcement of the rules.

3. A review panel will be established, which will assess all potential whip offences and apply sanctions or remedial actions where appropriate. The panel will deal with referrals from the Stewards, as well as having the power to initiate its own review.

CHANGES TO ENFORCEMENT

1. The threshold for the application of some whip penalties will be lowered, to increase the deterrent effect and ensure earlier intervention.

2. Penalties will be increased for some specific offences where the current penalty is considered inadequate.

3. Financial penalties applied to amateur riders for whip offences will be increased.

4. The penalty structure for use of the whip above the permitted level, which are the most frequently committed offences, will be revised to increase the deterrent effect.

5. Penalty structure for use of the whip above the permitted level in major races to be revised as a doubling of the suspensions for the same offence in standard races.

6. Repeat whip offences should be addressed at an earlier stage, and the penalties for repeat offences increased to deter further repetition.

7. Disqualification of the horse will be introduced into the penalty framework for particularly serious use of the whip above the permitted level, where there has been a clear and flagrant disregard for the rules.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The BHA, on behalf of the racing industry, should commission and support further objective research into the effects of the whip, using any relevant scientific advances to inform policy.

2. The BHA should regularly consider the design and specifications of the approved whip, with a view to incorporating any technological innovations or advances that could further improve equine welfare and safety.

3. Reasonable efforts should be made by British racing to explain the design, use and regulation of the whip to key audiences.

4. While changing the name of the whip is not a direct, formal proposal, racing participants and media should be encouraged and supported to speak about the whip using appropriate and responsible language.

5. The BHA and racecourses should agree a standard rider contract for charity and legends races, to ensure riders in such races are clear on their obligations in relation to use of the whip.

New Spanish beach race festival unveiled at meeting in Germany

Article by Paull Khan

There will be a spanking new venue for official beach racing in Spain this year when the Andalucian village of Zahara de los Atunes opens its doors to thoroughbred racing on Saturday October 29th, the middle day of an attraction-packed three-day beach festival, bookended by jazz concerts and polo. Long known for its beach-bar music scene, horseracing will now be used in Zahara in an attempt to prolong the tourist season in this southernmost part of Spain until the end of October. 

The Costa de la Luz now boasts two beach tracks, with the venerable Sanlucar de Barrameda an hour-and-a-half drive up the coast.

Zahara’s stunning straight beach will accommodate races between 1400m/7f and 1800m/9f. 

Plans for the Zahara festival were unveiled at this year’s annual meeting of the European Beach Racing Association, which took place in Cuxhaven, on Germany’s north seacoast. Delegates had been privileged to witness the famed Duhner-Wattrennen races, which have been staged on the vast beach for the past 120 years. An attentive and happy-paying crowd of 13,000 attended this year’s renewal, despite poor weather. The programme was varied, with trotting (mounted and sulky) and gallop races for warmbloods in addition to thoroughbred racing. 

Cuxhaven is unique among beach racetracks in that the horses race through a shallow covering of standing water. The resultant spray, from the horses’ hooves and the wheels of the patrol vehicle, creates its own spectacle. The races are recognised as a powerful tourist attraction—a national minister attended and addressed the launch party before proceedings began.

Juvenile Jumpers - Is there a place in Britain and Ireland for a juvenile hurdle programme?

Words - Lissa Oliver

The racing industry can often be accused of living in the past. Horsemen rely to an extent on the sharing of knowledge and experience handed down from one generation to the next, yet trainers in particular are keen to keep up with the latest trends and innovations in the hope they may improve the performance of their horses. While we thrive on tradition, we still constantly chase the next best thing.

Rooted more deeply in the past is National Hunt racing, which could be described as the more accessible side of our sport. Within the ranks of breeders, trainers and amateur jockeys are a great number of hobbyists, who like to do things themselves in the manner they have always done.

So it’s perhaps no surprise that we now delve back to 2013, a year in which we posed just about the same question we pose here: Should National Hunt store horses be broken at time of sale? It was a question then that had emerged out of borderline panic, as British and Irish-bred National Hunt horses struggled to compete against the French-breds. As with most panic attacks, we looked to the most immediate and obvious cause and set about addressing the situation with a campaign to supply ready-broken stores.

Speaking at the 2013 launch of an educational DVD on the breaking of store horses, Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Manager Shane O’Dwyer explained, “The view in National Hunt circles is that we need to change the way we do business, in that traditionally the store horse is broken at three and four, but the French system of breaking at two years appears to be a good alternative. The sales companies are pushing for horses to be broken by the autumn of their two-year-old career and then turned away to mature.”

That was 10 years ago. While the tide in results has since turned, the ideas put in place at the time have still yet to find favour. After a decade, 2022 sees the first National Hunt sale to cater for the new Junior Hurdle programme that will commence in Britain this autumn. Goffs UK August Sale at Doncaster in early August will feature a new National Hunt two-year-old session as part of the company’s support of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s (TBA) National Hunt Junior Hurdle races.

The National Hunt two-year-old session at the sale will see all horses offered with pre-sale veterinary certificates, in the same way that stores are offered in the Doncaster Spring Sale, and the new National Hunt Junior Hurdle Races will be open exclusively to three-year-olds from October to December and four-year-olds from January to April.

However, if we look at the number of store horses offered broken over the past ten years, early breaking does not seem to have gained any popularity among breeders and consignors, despite drives by the TBA and ITBA. Nor does it have any obvious effect on sales.

Ten years ago, the three largest sales in Ireland and Britain in 2012 catalogued an average of 23% broken stores. 77.3% of the Land Rover Sale catalogue were unbroken, of which 74.4% were sold. 76.2% of horses listed as having been driven in long reins were sold; 71.4% of those listed as driven and backed were sold; and 70.3% of the broken horses found buyers.

Those 2012 figures were similar at Fairyhouse, where 77.8% of the Derby Sale catalogue were unbroken. Only 11 were listed as broken, but all 11 were sold. 79.5% of those driven and backed changed hands, and 80.3% of horses driven in long reins were sold. 83.3% of the unbroken horses found buyers.

Meanwhile, at the 2012 DBS Spring Sale, looking at the 208 stores catalogued on the final day, the picture was much the same. 62.5% were unbroken, of which 73.8% sold. 62.5% of the broken horses changed hands, 66.7% of the youngsters driven and backed were sold, and 72% of those long reined found homes.

A lot depends on the individual horse, and the sheer volume of unbroken horses limits the purchaser’s choice; but the comparative percentages show that having a horse prepared and even broken was certainly not a disadvantage, even then.

If we skip ahead to the current year, Goffs Land Rover Sale 2022 had 715 catalogued, of which only seven were broken, 0.98%. Tattersalls Derby Sale 2022 had 390 catalogued, four of which were broken, 1%. Goffs UK Spring Store Sale 2022 had six broken, from a catalogue of 313, 1.9%. That’s a total of just 1.2% of broken horses, quite a decrease from the 23% of broken stores on offer in 2012.

The French, of course, have a National Hunt programme designed to bring young horses to the track, with sales arising from racecourse performance rather than the ring. The Arqana Grand Steeple Sale 2022 had 38 catalogued, of which 19 raced over hurdles as three-year-olds (50%) and the remainder, bar four in training but unraced, ran on the Flat. 

The French system of early racing experience is popular with trainers, who are trying to satisfy the demands of impatient owners who want to go straight from the sales to the racecourse. It’s also a system that benefits its young National Hunt horses, who have a programme in place allowing them to develop and gain experience on the track. Until this year, no such development programme existed for British and Irish horses.

Junior National Hunt Hurdles in Britain are open to horses that have not previously run before 1 October of that season, nor previously started in a Flat race or more than three hurdle races. Horses will be allowed to run in a maximum of four Junior National Hunt Hurdles, with a penalty structure for wins in previous hurdle races.

There will be 10 Junior National Hunt Hurdle races in the 2022/23 season open to three-year-olds and run between mid-October and the end of December, with a similar number for four-year-olds from January to the end of the season, all run at Classes 2 to 4 under WFA terms. 

Wins by British-bred fillies nominated to the GBB (NH) scheme will generate bonuses just as they would for Novice Hurdles, which is £20,000 for GB-sired fillies winning fillies-only races and £10,000 for those winning any-sex races. Junior National Hunt Hurdle race winners will still be eligible to compete in Novice Hurdles during the following season, just as for National Hunt Flat races. It is hoped this will boost the sales of two-year-old National Hunt prospects.

“By adding these races to the programme, we’ll be able to gain a much better understanding of the impact of providing young jumping horses with the opportunity to start their careers at an earlier stage,” says Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer of the BHA. “Such an approach is already well established in France and to some extent as part of a vibrant Point-to-Point scene in Ireland, and we hope that owners and trainers will support the introduction of Junior National Hunt Development Hurdle Races and view them as an ideal opportunity for the right sort of jumping horse.”

Dr Bryan Mayoh, Chairman of the TBA NH Committee and co-breeder of black-type National Hunt winners, including Sizing John, told the National Trainers Federation, “This could be a long-term game changer for British Jump racing and breeding.”

He points out that “almost half of the horses gaining RPRs of 170 or more from 2009/10 onwards are French-breds” and argues the point, “top-class French-breds are far more likely to have run over obstacles at the age of three or by the middle of their four-year-old year. These horses had probably been schooled over hurdles several months earlier. The early racing of French-bred National Hunt horses, rather than any differences in pedigree, appears to be the single biggest factor generating the superior results of French-breds in recent years.”

Of course, it isn’t only the French-bred horses who benefit from early racing. Irish bred and trained horses are also now dominating the National Hunt scene, as their success at recent Cheltenham Festivals highlights. Once again, we could point to early racing as a probable reason for success, as so many Irish National Hunt horses have come from the Point-to-Point field. As trainer David Pipe tells us, “We do not get many orders for store horses, so tend to buy English or Irish Point-to-Pointers.”

Of the 30 races run at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, 15 were won by Irish-breds, nine by French-breds and four by British-bred horses. Looking only at the 20 Graded races, only two of the winners ran as three-year-olds, both in France. Thirteen of the Graded winners debuted at four, five of them in Point-to-Points. Three didn’t start until the age of five, one as a six-year-old and one had run on the Flat at two.

The picture in 10 years’ time might be very different, with the trend in National Hunt horses debuting at four changing to a bulk of three-year-old appearances. But, overall, the knee-jerk reactions to stem the tide of rival breeding nations appear neither to have been embraced nor even to have affected the turnaround in results or the turnover at sales.

There is, however, another argument to early breaking and racing. Research by Ely, Avella, Price, Smith, Wood and Verheyen, published in the April 2009 Equine Veterinary Journal, found that ex-store horses were twice as likely to suffer tendon and suspensory ligament injuries as ex-Flat horses. The data collected from 1,223 horses based in 14 different British National Hunt training yards showed the recorded fracture incidence rate varied significantly by trainer, but not by gender or age. 

The tendon and suspensory ligament incidence rate also varied significantly by trainer, as well as by age, but not by gender. The findings are clear: Early breaking and training halves the incidences of tendon and suspensory ligament problems.

It has been shown that short, controlled pieces of work at regular intervals, between recovery turnout, allow tendons and ligaments to grow and develop strength in harmony with bone growth. When a young National Hunt horse comes into training from a background of controlled exercise it is far less likely to suffer suspensory ligament problems, and its career is significantly prolonged as a consequence.

Grange Stud has been breaking its stores for the past 20 years and in terms of physical development, it makes logical sense. “It’s the same for any athlete, be they human or equine; the sooner you start skills training, the better it is for their careers,” points out bloodstock agent John O’Byrne. “Look at top professionals in any sport: they had a ball, club or racquet in their hands nearly before they could walk.”

Does jockey gender makes a difference to racehorse performance?

Words - Charlotte Schrurs (PGDip VetPhys, MSc)

Male jockeys have no more influence over the performance of a racehorse than female jockeys

Experts from the University of Nottingham have found that the sex of a jockey doesn’t influence any aspect of racehorse physiology and performance. 

The findings of the study, presently published as a preprint at Research Square, offer a new perspective on the possible balance of elite male and female jockeys on the start line of races.  

Studies assessing the effect of the sex of a rider on racehorse performance and physiology during training have not been reported, mostly due to the lack of available data for female participants within the sport. 

The racing of Thoroughbred horses has a tradition dating back to the 18th Century in the UK. However, it was not until the mid-late 20th Century that the first ladies’ race was held. In the present day, more than 90% of participating jockeys, in most racing nations, are men. This is likely an unconscious bias toward male jockeys being, on average, physically ‘stronger’, able to push horses harder, and thus performing better in races than female jockeys. 

In horse-racing, male and female jockeys compete against each other in the majority of races. This is because the competitive advantage is less on the physical attributes of the rider but more on skill level or ability to partner with an animal. Indeed, racing requires quick reaction time and agility from the jockey while being able to navigate the horse with dexterity across the peloton at peak speeds often exceeding 60km/h.

In the present day, more than 90% of jockeys, in most racing nations, are men. This is likely an unconscious bias toward male jockeys being, on average, physically ‘stronger’, able to push horses harder, and thus performing better in races than female jockeys.

This decade has seen a marked increase in participation of female jockeys at an elite level in the racing industry. In 2021, the Irish jockey – Rachael Blackmore – made history by winning several high-profile races. This year, she continued her remarkable rise by becoming the first female jockey ever to win the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Success stories, like this, are shaping global betting behaviours on the racetrack and challenging the public’s confidence in the ability of male or female jockeys to win big races.  

In the UK and Ireland, previous research had suggested an underestimation of the ability of female jockeys to win races, as recorded in betting behaviour. 

In racing, a competitive advantage may lie in the ability of a jockey to control the horse, and/or less weight carried by the horse (i.e. weight of jockey plus saddle). 

An average racehorse weighs ~500-600kg, an average jockey, ~49-55 kg. Yet, a few 100g extra on the back of a racehorse has been shown to influence race performance. Therefore, weight carried by the horse (jockey, plus saddle and added weights where necessary) is used to further equalise any perceived performance advantage. This allows horses of varying levels to participate in so-called “handicap” races. In such races, each horse is attributed a predetermined weight to carry (jockey plus saddle, with added weights where necessary) determined by the racing regulatory board. Horses with better racing records are allocated higher weights in order to further equalise any perceived performance advantage. Hence, jockeys are weighed in before, and weighed out after, races. 

All being equal, would a racehorse during race-pace work-outs perform any differently when ridden by either a female or male jockey? Would that racehorse be more or less likely to win a race? 

Researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, worked with Guillaume Dubois PhD Scientific Director at Arioneo Ltd – a company that developed a bespoke exercise tracking device for horses; and an Equine Sports Medicine specialist (Dr Emmanuelle van Erck-Westergren PhD; Equine Sports Medicine Practice, Belgium) to answer some of these questions. 

They monitored 530 thoroughbred racehorses, ridden by 103 different work riders, which were randomly allocated to a horse (66 male, 37 female) over a total of 3,568 work-outs (varying intensity from slow/med/hard canter to gallop) at a single racing yard (with varying tracks sand, fibre, turf) (Ciaron Maher racing) in Victoria, Australia. Variables such as speed, stride length and frequency, horses heart rate and rate of recovery were recorded with a validated fitness tracker (the ‘Equimetre’©). This tracker was specifically designed to monitor horses during their daily exercise routine with advanced data analysis services (www.arioneo.com).

The investigators found no effect of sex of the jockey on any objectively measured outcome variable, measured from slow-canter to hard, race-pace gallops. But would this lack of effect of sex of jockey in training, also translate to actual race results, where many other variables come into play?   

Analysing results from 52,464 races (combining steeplechase and flat races), female jockeys had a similar win percentage (of total race starts) as male jockeys in the UK (female, 10.7% vs. male, 11.3%). In Australia, male jockeys had a slightly higher win percentage (11.0 vs. 9.9%), but this was negated when considering a top three race finish. 

Taken together, the researchers found minimal effect of the sex of the jockey on both training and race outcomes. Some curious effects were observed. For example, recovery of racehorse heart rate after exercise appeared influenced by sex of the rider, but only when the usual training intensity on each track surface (grass or sand) was reversed. 

Male work-riders, more so than female, perhaps anticipated the ‘expected’ training-intensity (e.g. gallop on grass) and their proposed anticipation was transmitted faithfully to the horse, who responded with higher or lower heart rate. Further work is needed, however, to confirm this effect. When considered across all training sessions, then no difference in expected recovery rates of racehorses were noted between male and female jockeys.  

Ms Charlotte Schrurs (PGDip VetPhys, MSc), doctoral student and lead author with Professor David S Gardner PhD, said: “Our study is the first to objectively assess whether sex of the jockey has an influence on any aspect of racehorse physiology and performance. The data convincingly suggest the answer is no and offers a new perspective on the possible balance of elite male and female jockeys on the start line of races. Efforts to favour a more ‘inclusive environment’ would greatly contribute towards equal opportunities and the promotion of fair competition within this highly popular and fascinating sport.” 

The full study can be found here  - https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1341860/v1

Racing in Belgium

Words - Dr. Paull Khan

Belgium's Desert Orchid and French-trained Taupin Rochelais sail over the 'world's biggest water jump.' Credit: Photography Piet Eggermont Belgium.

The jumps track at the pristine little Flemish town of Waregem might just boast the shortest finishing straight in the world—the winning post being a matter of yards from the final bend. It is, however, the home of far and away the most valuable race in Belgium. The Grand Steeple-Chase of Flanders boasts a purse of €80,000 (€100,000 pre-COVID) and, August 30th will see the 154th renewal of this venerable 4,600-metre event.

“The race is part of the Crystal Cup,” explains course commentator Nicky de Frene, “thanks to the Gaverbeek—the largest water jump in the world at 6.5 metres—and the famous Irish Bank, which give this Steeple-Chase a little touch of a cross-country race. It’s recently attracted the attention of David Pipe and Jamie Snowden, but I fear that Brexit wasn’t a good thing for Waregem because of the extra travel costs.” 

Nowadays, the race is virtually the preserve of French connections (Although Germany can boast a couple of second places in recent years; and Kildagin did win it for Britain back in 1975). 

Nicky de Frene is in no doubt about its most remarkable winner. “In the last decade, we have seen the domination of the French trainer Patrice Quinton, who won the race 10 times in a row! That happened with five different horses, one of which was Taupin Rochelais, the near-white grey who won it four times running. At the time of his last victory, in 2018, he had to carry 76kg, (12 stone) and he beat a top-class horse from champion trainer Guillaume Macaire. That day, Waregem witnessed the highest-rated performance in its history.” 

“We’re not a racing nation…” continues de Frene, warming to his theme, “but he’s our version of Desert Orchid! I don’t know of a top handicap in the world with a winner of four successive renewals. Even Makybe Diva has just three Melbourne Cups; Red Rum, three Grand Nationals. So Taupin Rochelais deserves, in my opinion, eternal fame.”

However, the Grand Steeple Chase of Flanders is one of just four Belgian jumps races, all run on a single day at Waregem. Flat racing, by contrast, is held year-round. 

Belgian racing is, in fact, amongst the most open in the world. All of its races, including handicaps, are open to horses trained in all recognised nations. As long as an entry has a handicap mark in its home country, it will be assigned a mark in Belgium, which uses the same scale as in France.

Some 18% of last year’s runners were foreign-trained—the great majority from Germany, some from Holland and a smattering from France. Gone are the days when British trainers like Michael Jarvis made regular raids over to the seaside resort track at Ostend. This compares starkly with the number of foreign sorties made by Belgian-trained horses, which are almost as likely to run outside Belgium as within it.

Marcel De Bruyne, Belgium’s representative on the EMHF and director of the Belgian Galop Federation, explains the simple truth: “French racetracks are nearby, and the prize money at those favoured by Belgian trainers is more than double ours.”

Average prize money last year was some €4,700 per race, peaking at €12,800 for Ostend’s Grand Prix de Prince Rose, the country’s most prestigious flat race. It is named after the most celebrated Belgian-trained thoroughbred who ran third in the ‘Arc,’ went on to win the Gp. 1 Prix du President at Saint Cloud and become an important stallion—leading sire in France in 1946 and great grand-sire of Secretariat.

Neither can the pool of home-trained horses be said to be extensive, having fallen from 348 pre-COVID to just 318 last year. However, the fixture list which these horses are asked to sustain runs to just 30 meetings and 150 races; and this controlled offering certainly pays dividends as regards competitiveness. Field sizes would be the envy of many top-tier racing nations: 10.8 at Ostende, 10.6 at Waregem and 9.4 at Mons.

Let’s take a look at the country’s three racecourses:

1. Mons: Two thirds of Belgium’s races are run at Mons, on the same type of All Weather track as can be found at Chantilly and Deauville, some 50km southwest of Brussels near the French border. A left-handed track of 1,200 metres’ circumference which favours front runners, particularly in the sprints, Mons’ Hippodrome de Wallonie races fortnightly from mid-September to the end of April, with a limited menu of five distances: 950m, 1,500m, 2,100m, 2,300m and 2,850m.

2. Wellington Racecourse at Ostend: Belgium’s high-summer track, racing on turf every Monday, July through August. With a slight incline to the finish, races cover a full range of distances from 1,000m to 4,000m, either on the track’s 1,400m right-handed oval or its 1,000m straight.

3. Waregem: Not far from Ghent, Waregem now offers four turf flat meetings in May and June, including the St Leger over 2,700m, to add to its flagship jumps day.

Nearly half the horses in training in Belgium are owner-trained. There are 18 professional trainers in the country. Jockeys are also in short supply: just 14 professional riders (with a further seven gentleman riders and seven lady riders. 

The long-term sustainability of thoroughbred breeding in the country is, however, a concern for De Bruyne. The country produced just 24 foals last year. “Belgian-bred thoroughbreds are becoming an endangered species because owners prefer to buy race-ready horses; and Belgian breeders often breed in France to be eligible for French breeders’ and owners’ premiums.” 

The backdrop against which Belgian racing is attempting to thrive is one of serious under-funding. It's only betting-based income stems from the very modest sums that are wagered by racegoers at its three courses and from bets placed into the French betting operator; PMU’s pools on 100 or so qualifying flat races—the so-called ‘Premium’ races. It is therefore heavily dependent upon this latter income stream. The sport derives no benefit whatsoever from the great bulk of relevant wagering—neither from bets placed by Belgian punters off-course (either in the 3,500 retail outlets or online)—whether on Belgian races or otherwise, nor by punters in other countries betting online on Belgian races (outside the PMU system).

Baron Philippe Casier—former president of the Belgian Jockey Club and a long-time advocate of statutory funding for the sport from betting thereon—describes two recent body-blows to this ambition. “Last year, a law introduced two years earlier, which required betting operators licensed in the country to enter into a funding agreement with racecourses, and which covered betting on both foreign and domestic races, was repealed before a single Euro had been handed over. And in 2018, a tripartite agreement that the Belgian tracks had struck with the PMU and international betting operators, through which common pool betting on the French system had, for a few years, resulted in healthy income for them, also ended.”

So, despite the numerous European Commission precedents, which have established the validity of statutory funding, there seems to be no current appetite for this within the Belgian national government, of which betting is a competency. Racing therefore must look to the largesse of regional governments. The Walloon region has been persuaded of the benefits of supporting this rural industry, and grants Mons a yearly operational subsidy. Hopes in Flanders, where there is currently no such support and into which Ostend and Waregem fall, rest with a proposal to establish a similar subsidy that is funded by raising the tax rate on online bets from 11% to the 15% that already applies to other betting. Despite these impediments, optimism remains, and perhaps we should leave the last reflections to Guy Heymans, Belgium’s chair of the European Trainers Federation: “Because of the repression we had in Belgian racing, a lot of owners stopped owning racehorses. And lots of those who kept on started training their horses themselves. That’s why we have a lot of owner/trainers in Belgium and why there are only a few professional trainers left”.

Racing in Belgium is no longer on a regular basis, as it used to be—there is now a race meeting only approximately every fortnight. But Ostend and Waregem are becoming very popular with the general public, with thousands of spectators at those meetings. For an owner it’s a real pleasure to win a race at one of these meetings with such crowds and all that cheering!

“Belgium is a very interesting place to have horses in training. First of all there is the geographical location: we have easy access to a lot of French and German racetracks (e.g., Paris within only three hours’ drive). Secondly, the trainers have excellent facilities—some of them private, others based on the racetrack in Mons.

Furthermore, the cost of putting a horse in training is cheaper than in our neighbouring countries. That makes it an interesting proposition for foreign owners to put horses into pre-training with a Belgian trainer.

“Belgian racing has been evolving positively over recent years. We hope that this trend will continue in such a way that new and old owners will find their way to the sport.”

Have horse, why travel?

Alpinista with Luke Morris wins the Longines 131.Grossen Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten racecourse, 2021

By Lissa Oliver

It used to be a case of “have horse, will travel” for some globetrotting trainers, when internationally renowned races and global competition could really put them, and their horse, on the map. We didn’t know how good the southern hemisphere sprinters were until they arrived at Ascot; and we didn’t know how good the European middle-distance and staying horses were until they travelled to Australia or were exported to Hong Kong. Now we’re seeing Japanese horses as a force to be reckoned with, and they’re not travelling for prize money. The big stage establishes the big player.

But still, global competition was only for the big players and stardom was the attraction, not money. The Gp. 1 champions competing abroad had earned their airfare already. Those below simply couldn’t afford to travel to take them on.

With the two recent problems—the global pandemic and the more localised Brexit—travel should have become harder and, indeed, we’ve seen from past pages here that travel between France, Ireland and Britain—the busiest thoroughbred routes—has decreased quite significantly as a result.

For many trainers, however, those problems have not been a deterrent. The lucrative prizes abroad are worth the added effort and paperwork to plunder. Whether there are smaller yards trying to target better prize money to pay their way or owners seeking black type for their horses, a more flexible approach to the programme can pay dividends—especially for those who think out of the box and look further afield or to lesser-known countries.

Sir Mark Prescott is a prime example of using the European race programme to enhance the stud value of his horses. He is already synonymous with working backwards from a big handicap target to ensure the most efficient and beneficial preparation possible. Now he is transferring those tactics to target what might be perceived as Europe’s less competitive Gp. 1 races.

The race of the season in 2021 turned out to be at Hoppegarten at the beginning of August when Alpinista won the Gp. 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin for Sir Mark Prescott and owner-breeder Miss Kirsten Rausing, winning €106,900 as well as enhanced black type.

More interestingly, finishing second that afternoon was Torquator Tasso, trained by Marcel Weiss. And we all know what he did next, taking the Gp. 1 Grosser Preis von Baden en route to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. In third place was Charlie Appleby’s Walton Street, who won the Gr. 1 Canadian International on his next start. Alpinista meanwhile continued on her unbeaten season to claim the Gp. 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne in September and the Gp. 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich in November, taking her earnings to €509,314 in the process.

That was a nice case of black type and prize money, but even for the lower grade horse that doesn’t aspire to Pattern level, there are lucrative opportunities beyond Britain where many trainers are struggling to cope with what amounts to the ‘poor relation’ in prize money terms.

Amy Murphy is just one of several British trainers to open a satellite yard in France, where she describes the prize money as ‘out of this world’. Gay Kelleway and Paul George are among those to also cite prize money as the motivation, as well as the additional temporary fix of avoiding Brexit issues with French runners.

Over-wintering horses in Dubai is popular with those that can afford to do so, but France also offers a more cost-effective chance to get winter sun on their backs while competing for prize money that is higher than the average British winter all-weather handicap. Marie-Laure Treal, assistant director at Cagnes sur Mer, tells us, “Until 13 March, the Winter Meeting of the Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur offers 59 race meetings. Trainers may rent boxes for the period at €50 per box per month and accommodation is offered for stable staff, allocated according to the different requests and availability.”

While France is the obvious choice when looking for increased earning potential, other nations are also trying to attract international attention with eye-catching purses. As Irish trainer Adrian McGuinness points out in relation to Meydan’s Gp. 1 Al Quoz Sprint, “There's €700,000 on offer to the winner. I could win more in one race than I won in the whole season in Ireland last year, despite the fact I had the best campaign of my life.” He also points out that the runner-up prize of €300,000 is higher than the winner’s purse in the Gp. 1 Prix de l’Abbaye.

With emerging countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and even Libya using money to secure their instant place in the international calendar, trainers need to be more broad-minded than ever when planning campaigns.

The Belgian Galop Federation has many racing opportunities with prize money from 5000-800 Euros

Many opportunities for an average rated horse are much closer to home and easier to target. The prize money might not be eye-watering, but neither is the competitiveness in comparison to similar races at home.

Marcel De Bruyne, MvG, Belgian Galop Federation, tells us, “Our showpiece—the Prince Rose, a National Listed Race over 2100m—will be run in Ostend in August with total prize money of €12,800, with €8,000 for the winner.

“This race is open for three-year-olds and older who have never been placed in the first five of a Pattern race. The weights are 52.5kg for three-year-olds and 56kg for four-year-olds and older. Horses that have won or been placed second or third in minor races will have to carry extra weight.

“Some other races can be interesting for foreign runners in Ostend. The four races I highlight each have a total prize money of €8,000, with €5,000 for the winner. Three conditions races in July and August are the Miler Cup, 1600m; the Prijs Half Oogst & BFG Galop, 1800m; and the Prijs BFG & Nymphenburger, 2200m. 

“They are for four-year-old horses and older without a handicap value or a value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs) and they carry 55kg (121 Ibs). Penalties for prize money received for wins and places since 1 July 2021 are 1kg per €1,000.

The Gr.3 Stockholm Cup - Sweden’s major race, run at Bro Park in September and worth 155000 Euros

“Then we have one handicap, the UAE Sprint Cup over 1000m in August for four-year-olds and older with a handicap value equal or lower than 30kg.”

See the the complete list of races and conditions here: www.bgalopf.be/Meetings.htm

Scandinavia offers a great deal of potential and Svensk Galopp highlights for foreign visitors the 2400m Gr. 3 Stockholm Cup—Sweden’s major race—run at Bro Park in September and worth €155,000. The Svensk Derby is worth €120,289, the Listed Zawawi Cup €48,282; and supporting races include the Listed Lanwades Stud Stakes, Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship and the 1400m Appel Au Maitre Svealandlöpning—the latter being Sweden's most important two-year-old race, often attracting foreign runners. Svensk Galopp is a rising star in the racing world with plans for another new course project in Skåne.

Norway’s Ovrevoll hosts the Norsk Derby in August with a value of 121970 Euros, and the Oslo Cup in Junne with a value of 53000 Euros

In Norway, the Norsk Derby at Ovrevoll in August has a value of €121,970 and the Gp.3 Oslo Cup in June a value of €53,000.

Spain is another country on our doorstep but perhaps off the radar. The Madrid Grand Prix over 2500m at the end of June is the major summer highlight, worth €60,000. They race most of the year, with a break from 29 December to 6 March. 

The autumn-winter season begins 11 September, the highlight being Champions Day 16 October. The Champions Day card includes the Gran Premio Memorial Duque de Toledo, over 2400m with a value of €68,000; and the Gran Premio Ruban, over 1200m worth €40,800; as well as a strong supporting card and lucrative added premiums of €5,000 for Spanish-breds.

The premiums are always a boost, and every European country contributing to the European Breeders Fund also hosts a wide range of races aimed to improve opportunities at a grassroots level. 

Rachael Gowland of the British EBF tells us, “If a horse finishes sixth or better in any of the EBF races in Britain, it will be eligible to enter for one of the two finals. Each final is run over 7f and has a value of £100,000, with prize money down to eighth place. 

“The colts’ and geldings’ final will be at York Friday 7 October and the fillies’ final at Goodwood Tuesday 6 September. The EBF is contributing £50,000 for each race, and we were very lucky that York and Goodwood both came back to us and offered to match our prize fund.

“The EBF is a cooperative, and all member jurisdictions benefit from a pool of international stallion registrations; an EBF-registered horse is qualified to run in EBF races in any member country.”

Simon Sweeting, chairman of the British EBF, explains, “With a reduction in racing in 2020, came a small surplus of funds for the British EBF. The trustees were keen to make sure that this money was re-focused to do the maximum good it could for the industry. This series not only provides tantalising prize money targets but also aims to add the EBF’s weight to encouraging owners to re-invest at the yearling sales. With no early closing stages and over 100 chances to qualify a horse, we hope that owners and trainers will support this new initiative.”

In Ireland, the Median Sires Series consists of 26 races each worth a minimum €25,000. The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes is the showcase.

The Irish EBF Auction Series for two-year-olds bought at auction for €72,000 or less is worth a minimum of €20,000 per race and has two finals, the main one worth €120,000. The Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series and Irish EBF Auction Bumper cater for the National Hunt horses in a similar fashion.

Raceday Stewards - What can racing learn from other sports who employ professional officials?

By Lissa Oliver

There is an argument in British and Irish racing that all stewards should be professional. The idea of stewards presiding over the sport on a voluntary basis is considered, by some, to be outdated. Yet others would argue that voluntary stewards are incorruptible, giving their time not for financial personal gain but for a genuine love of the sport and desire to support racing.

How would we feel if our politicians and government ministers were unpaid? Would we be more trustworthy if their position was a vocation rather than just an employment choice? Or anxious that lack of salary left them open to bribery? There is no definitive answer, and much depends on the individual holding that position of power.

So how do other sports police their participants? Some have ‘in-play’ referees who are participating alongside the sporting contestants, but there are many sports, like our own, policed from observers on the side-lines. In all cases, with one notable exception, the world’s major sports are overseen by professional panels; although it was only in more recent years that football referees joined those professional ranks. 

The exception is motorsport. Formula 1 racing is policed from a race day control room by marshals who are volunteers and unpaid. Fitness and passion are the only prerequisites, and just a minimum of a year’s experience at motor club level is expected of Formula 1 marshals. 

If we look at other equestrian sports, judges have a training programme in place designed to help them progress their career and all officials must attend an officials’ training event every two years. The average annual salary is said to be around €51,000 / £43,400.

In football, British referees became professional in 2001, and basic annual retainers vary from €35,000 / £30,000 for Premier League assistant and video assistant referees, to €82,000-€235,000 / £70,000-£200,000 for the official referee, plus match fees of €998-€1,800 / £850-£1,500. The restructuring from amateur to professional aimed to improve the overall standard of refereeing and enable officials to go full time. Former FIFA referee Roger Milford observed at the time, “I am sure this will mean more consistency from the officials on points of law which cause controversy. The fact that the referees will meet regularly for training sessions means they will sit down together and watch videos of incidents which have caused controversy.”

Elite cricket umpires receive around €2,400 / £2,000 per match, plus significant payments by tournament sponsors. There is a strict qualification route requiring at least 10 years of experience, with a series of examinations along the way. Meanwhile, following training and a written examination on the rules of tennis, top tennis umpires can command €35,000-€70,000 / £30,000-£60,000 a year and are required to attend and pass yearly certification school.

Although most rugby unions don’t reveal how much they pay their professional referees, a World Cup bonus can boost top referees to €94,000 / £80,000 a year, with match fees around €500 / £425. As with other sports, there is a structured training programme in place, coupled with length of experience. 

American football boasts seven NFL officials on the field per game, rather than observing from off the field, with specific roles and responsibilities. The NFL’s officiating development programme continuously develops a robust talent pool, as well as grassroots clinics and programmes designed to introduce young people to football officiating. Although NFL referees and officials are part-time employees, without work in the closed season, they can earn an average of €181,000 / £154,000) for the season. This is comparable to baseball umpires—with four officiating per game—and similar training and pay brackets exist; although according to Bleacher Report, baseball umpires make more per year than officiating staff from the NFL. Likewise, golf referees in North America command similar salaries.

It is interesting to note that in unifying the rules of golf worldwide—generally viewed as a self-policing sport, it is seen to start at referee level. In Britain, the Official Referee Qualification was launched in February 2021 to establish a clear pathway for aspiring golf officials. Grant Moir, director of rules at golf’s administrative body The R&A, said of the introduction, “We believe that individuals aspiring to become referees and tournament administrators will benefit greatly from this enhanced rules education programme that culminates in an official qualification which will be recognised internationally. We will work closely with our affiliated national federations around the world to introduce the new Referee Qualification and together encourage future officials to take advantage of the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the rules and develop the skills required to apply them in a competition environment.” 

2021 saw an initial pilot of the programme being run in Australia, Chile, Ireland, Singapore, South Africa and Sweden, in order to gain feedback and make refinements to the programme ahead of a full roll-out in 2022.

These, then, are just some examples that racing authorities might look to if seeking to update race day officiating. It is quite clear throughout that in other sports, officials are salaried and, more importantly, a clear pathway of education is in place, including continuous professional development and training. The switch from amateur to professional football referees to create a greater level of consistency would certainly have pricked a few ears within racing, while the international focus of the new Golf Referee Qualification is definitely something our industry should be paying attention to.

Of course, the race day stewarding system in place differs from one horseracing jurisdiction to the next, and some have already embraced the trend set by other sports. This only serves to highlight the gulf still to be bridged in globally unifying the rules of horseracing.

If we revert back to football, as well as the move from amateur to professional officials, more recently we have seen the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee). Despite early teething problems, VAR has been held up by some trainers as the way forward for race day stewards. The idea of a central office occupied by a panel of full-time professional stewards who can view racing remotely is far less outlandish now that we have all adapted to Zoom and other online platforms. Enabling the same stewards to view each day’s racing, covering more than one meeting, would surely allow for greater consistency in their interpretation of the rules.

Interestingly, this concept has already been trialled in Australia by Racing Victoria. As a result of the operational review led by Robert Cram, Racing Victoria chairman of stewards, the control room has been established as a centrally located race day hub that remotely supports the stewards officiating at a race meeting. It will be interesting to see how successful this may become and whether it will be adopted by other Australian bodies, or indeed by other nations.

Marc Van Gestel, general manager of Integrity and Chairman of Stewards at Racing NSW, tells us, “The NSW model for stewarding is based on the entirety of stewards being professional and full-time. We do not employ honorary staff.  

“Given the geographics of NSW and oversight of approximately 100 racecourses, Racing NSW has the state divided into 10 regions whereby there are full-time stewards based in those regions who report directly to me from our central Sydney office. All stewards operate from Racing NSW offices in those regions. Conferences are held annually and policies, rules updates and important changes to prohibited substance protocols are disseminated to all stewards when changes are made. Stewards also officiate in regions that border their own base, to provide further transparency with our processes. 

“The majority of stewards working for Racing NSW, including myself, have been developed through our traineeship system whereby trainees complete a certificate IV in racing administration (stewarding). This course provides all stewards with a fundamental base to commence their career in the industry. There is also a significant amount of on-the-job training that is provided to all stewards along with formal training sessions.

“The model we have in place provides consistency with decisions made throughout this jurisdiction and in my opinion is best practice.”

Former Racing NSW Deputy Chairman of Stewards Greg Rudolph sets out quite clearly the recruitment process and career path of potential stewards. “The formative years of cadetship are quite tough as they are paid an apprenticeship wage, starting out at $50,000 (€31,600/£27,000) per year. While that can be challenging, it is easier once you move up in rank. Once you move into the senior ranks, it becomes a package with a car and phone package as well as a six-figure salary. The higher positions are well paid, but you have to work your way up the ladder.”

The Hong Kong Jockey Club also provides an apprenticeship pathway into stewarding, with cadet stipendiary stewards. The HKJC Racing Control Department has a team of stipendiary stewards to administer the Rules of Racing and monitor the conduct of industry participants. Cadets are required to have a degree in a subject applicable to the responsibilities of a stipendiarysteward and must complete the Stewards Training Programme. They are also expected to have an active involvement with horses, including the ability to ride, although it is not essential. Salaries are not publicly available but are said to range from €26,000 to €148,000 (£22,000-£126,000) according to the level of appointment, qualifications and experience.

In the USA, stewards are professional and on average can earn between €33,000 / £28,000) and €56,000 /£48,000. The Racing Officials Accreditation Programme (ROAP) is a collaborative effort of industry organisations, supporting the common goal of ensuring the integrity of the horseracing industry. The ROAP works in close collaboration with the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Programme and the University of Louisville Equine Industry Programme to oversee the accreditation of racing officials.

The minimum experience qualifications for Flat Racing Accreditation at the basic level is at least 225 race days of experience as a licenced racing official (in any recognised capacity). A rigid structure dictates that licenced trainers (and similarly licenced jockeys) may receive credit for days of experience for the years where they had 100 or more starts as a licenced trainer. For example, five to nine years equates to a credit of 75 days, leaving them to complete only 150 additional days.

Graduates with a bachelor's degree from an affiliated university receive credit for 100 days of experience, and participants in the ROAP Apprenticeship Programme receive credit for up to 60 days of the apprentice programme. To maintain accreditation, all accredited US racing officials, stewards and judges must attend a continuing education session approved by the ROAP, totalling at least 16 credit hours every two years. 

The concept of professional stewards is not alien to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) or to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). Both jurisdictions employ a combination of unpaid volunteers and paid stipendiary stewards who collectively oversee the integrity of racing and enforce the Rules of Racing. But the role of stipendiary stewards is largely intelligence gathering and monitoring, while it’s the volunteers who form the disciplinary panel and interpret the Rules of Racing on race day.

As volunteers, there is no specified criteria for training or experience, but British and Irish stewards are supported with relevant training and must know the Rules of Racing. IHRB senior stewards serve for a period of two years, following a two-year period as deputy senior steward. Current Senior Steward Harry McCalmont said of his role, “Having spent my life in the business, it’s good to be putting something back and trying to help whenever possible. Stewards have a thankless task, but there is an enormous amount of work done voluntarily which people don’t see, and there is no recompense whatsoever. People do that because they love the sport.”

France also relies upon voluntary stewards, but in a 2019 poll by Jour de Galop, 61% of respondents voted in favour of professional stewards. France Galop Steward Robert Fournier-Sarvolèze told Jour de Galop of his concerns at the average age of the 850 stewards volunteering throughout France. “We note that the age band is getting higher and higher. We have some concern about this. In two years, many men and women will have to stop. The age limit is set at 75 for race stewards.”

He agreed that finding volunteers was not easy but didn’t necessarily believe offering professional positions would help, pointing out that the remuneration would be a major factor. Though not personally in favour, he felt a fixed salary for stewards employed on a year-round basis, rather than a one-off race day payment, might provide a solution. He did not, however, believe a mix of voluntary and professional stewards was workable.

Like McCalmont, Fournier-Sarvolèze acknowledged, “It is a pity that a lot of people do not know all the work done by the stewards.” However, reflecting back on the Racing Victoria remote control room and arguments in favour of a horseracing VAR, Fournier-Sarvolèze made the point, “This may be one of the faults of volunteering—it is not possible to be present every day.”

Stephanie Daburon has been a France Galop steward for 15 years and, like McCalmont, says of her voluntary role, “I have been passionate about horse racing from a young age. Becoming a steward has allowed me to participate in the life of racing in a different way.”

There are arguments both for and against professional stewards, but an important element in stewarding is integrity and the need to preserve the independence of the stewards, while ensuring that their judgment is not affected by any conflict of interest. Remuneration does not enter into that. What it can provide, however, is the stability of a full-time position and consistency. Isn’t lack of consistency in interpreting the rules our greatest bugbear?

There is one final point to note, however. We have been given, where possible, average salaries across all sports and racing jurisdictions. For those racing bodies who do not yet employ professional stewards, can they afford the cost? And where will that additional expense come from?

Sales Incentives - added value

Author - Nancy Sexton

The issue of prize money is not going to be resolved soon, with the average horse running for levels far removed from their contemporaries abroad. But that’s not to say ownership is a guaranteed black hole. British and Irish bloodstock remain highly prized commodities overseas, making it the subject of a frenzied export market. And for the domestic horse population, the opportunities are there to win extra money for those looking to work the system.

It is to the credit of the sales companies that many of these opportunities emanate from their various initiatives, whether it be in the form of sales races or bonus series.

At the higher end of the market, Tattersalls has paid out approximately £6.5 million in bonuses against Book 1 of its October Sale, while this year’s Goffs Orby Sale will be staged alongside a new million euro sales race.

For those value seekers, sales races are also attached to Books 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Sale as well as the company’s Somerville Yearling Sale. Anyone shopping at the recent Goffs UK Premier Sale also did so with the incentive of a sales race at York, which comes with its own bonus of a free horse to the winning connections.

Such incentives currently run in tandem with various bonus schemes. The Great British Bonus Scheme (GBB), in which payments of up to £20,000 are awarded to the connections of British-bred and/or sired fillies, has paid out over £3 million since its launch in June 2020. 

New for this season is the IRE Incentive Scheme, which awards a sales voucher of €10,000 to owners of Irish-bred winners from 150 selected races across the British and Irish Flat and National Hunt programmes in 2021. Winning owners then have until the end of the following year to spend their voucher on an Irish-bred at any Irish sale.

It works across the spectrum

Every lot catalogued to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale is eligible for the £20,000 October Book 1 bonus. Owners make a one-off payment to qualify—in 2021, £1,700 paid by March 1—and receive a £20,000 bonus should their Book 1 purchase win an eligible race run during the British and Irish turf Flat seasons.

The scheme was launched for the 2016 season and within no time at all had gained appreciation within the industry. At the time of writing, Tattersalls has paid out 251 bonuses of over £6.5 million, 24 of them in 2021. 

Unsurprisingly, it has proven to be a hit with various syndicates. A number of trainers have also latched on to it, among them Andrew Balding, who sent out Coventry Stakes winner Berkshire Shadow to land a bonus first time out at Newbury and Hoo Ya Mal to win Britain’s most valuable two-year-old maiden, the Convivial at York. Between them, the pair cost 80,000gns out of last year’s sale.

“We have paid out £6.5 million since it was launched,” says Jimmy George, marketing director of Tattersalls. “It’s a huge sum, and owners and trainers who have embraced it have been rewarded. It’s changed buyer behaviour. You have trainers like Ger Lyons, for example, who would have been in the Book 2 camp, but he embraced this scheme and has been successful with horses in that 20,000gns–100,000gns range.

“The beauty of it is the fact that it doesn’t matter if you get beaten in your maiden; you can go again and then again. So it works across the spectrum, allowing it to suit every type of horse.”

The likes of Berkshire Shadow and Hoo Ya Mal prove that while the sale average may hover around 220,000gns, value can be found; in which case, a £20,000 bonus can go a long way. 

That much is also evident in the case of Acomb Stakes winner Royal Patronage, who picked up a bonus for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing when successful at Epsom in July. He was bought by John and Jake Warren for 62,000gns out of last year’s sale.

“The bonus has certainly become part of the mindset when attending Book 1,” says Jake Warren. “It’s a meaningful prize that feels obtainable for each horse we buy at the sale, and it's that aspect that encourages us to make sure we cover the sale entirely as despite what some people might think. There is plenty of value there if you're prepared to look for it.  

“Royal Patronage, for example, was a beautiful yearling. He had an imposing physique with a noticeably deep front and a quality head—very much in the mould of the best sons of Wootton Bassett I've seen.”

If you find the crumbs, you need rewarding

Tattersalls also takes pride in its £150,000 Tattersalls Autumn Race while its sister company, Tattersalls Ireland, stages the €300,000 Super Auction Sales Stakes for graduates of its September Yearling Sale. Both are two of the company’s longer-standing events and remain extremely popular with owners and trainers.

Traditionally run for graduates of Books 3 and 4, the £150,000 Tattersalls Autumn Race will incorporate those from the Somerville Yearling Sale for the first time this year. This year’s Somerville yearlings also have their own race: a 6f event scheduled to be run next August on Newmarket’s July course.

“The £150,000 Tattersalls Autumn Race is one of our well-established events,” says George. “It’s something that is easy for trainers to sell for their owners.”

The race has a firm supporter in trainer Johnny Portman. The Lambourn trainer excels at sourcing value—a fine illustration being the Requinto filly Mild Illusion, who won over £66,000 having been bought for just 1,000gns as a Book 3 yearling.

Mild Illusion didn’t win the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes, but she came very close in 2019 when falling just a head short of Under The Stars. She won approximately £33,000 that day for her enthusiastic owners, the Old Stoic Racing Club, and went on to win the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes. She later sold for 160,000gns to Tally-Ho Stud.

“Every sale needs buyers at every level of the market and if you are one of the pigeons that finds the crumbs, you also need rewarding,” says Portman. “And the rewards are those races, such as the Tattersalls race, for cheaply purchased horses.

“Mild Illusion was offered for sale. Anyone could have bid on her and I was the only one. She was a lovely type and watching her walk round the ring, there was nothing to fault her. Not everyone was a fan of Requinto, but there was no reason not to buy her, especially at that money. And she nearly went on to win a sales race. 

“I’m a great believer in them. I don’t enjoy the sales so much, but I do love scratching around and looking for value.” He adds: “We’d like to find a Mild Illusion every year. They’re very hard to find and we were very lucky, but we’ll keep trying. She was wonderfully straightforward to train and was leased to some wonderful individuals. And her sale to Tally-Ho was an utter joy for some of my creditors!”

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Focus on two-year-olds – is the programme working?

Author - Lissa Oliver

We are living in an age of consumerism and disposable products, instant gratification the main aim for many. Now it seems that mentality is spilling over into horse racing. The two-year-old thoroughbred is fighting more than one battle—the balance of precocity over physical development, tough opposition on the racetrack, even tougher opposition in the marketplace competing against the ready-made horse in training, and the ultimate challenge of the limitation of the two-year-old racing programme.

If the trainer had more say in the programme, there would appear to be a consensus of agreement on how the juvenile programme might look. Whether French, German, British or Irish, there are similar needs to assist the average two-year-old to progress and go forward at three. But as Dominik Moser highlights, the programme and framing of races may not be the only contentious issue.

“I think we are beginning to lose the point of why we do this—why we breed and race horses,” Moser says. “In Germany, still, we have a big family line; the pedigree is why we race. My father was a jockey, and I come from the breeding side. I see how much time and luck it takes to bring a horse to the racetrack, and our breeders understand that. We breed for more than one season of racing. 

“I want every horse to be a good broodmare or stallion, and this is my job; but the new generation focuses more on a fast return of investment rather than achieving black type performance with a horse. We have auction races with big prize money for two-year-olds, so the new generation of owners can get their money back quickly and buy a new horse and a future career is not important. It doesn’t matter to them if the horse breaks down; they can just buy a new one.”

Breeding for precocity—or as some would say, for the sales ring—is not a new problem and has been an increasing concern in recent years. But surprisingly, the two-year-old programme doesn’t seem to be catering to the young speedsters either. By mid-summer, the two-year-old sprinter is beginning to run out of opportunities, and this seems to be an issue across the board throughout Europe.

“I would say we’re reasonably happy with the two-year-old programme in Ireland, although the more you get into the season, the fewer the opportunities at 5f (1000m) and 6f (1200m), which is something we keep a careful eye on,” says Michael Grassick, CEO of the IRTA. “Where those races are staged, they attract fewer runners, so it’s hard to argue a stronger need for them.”

Willie McCreery takes that further, arguing, “In Ireland, they don’t cater for sprinters at all. I would love our two-year-olds to have more sprint options at the end of the year. We cater a lot for the top-quality horses—the ones with the big pedigrees who cost big money and will make up into Derby types.”

There is a similar situation in France, Gina Rarick pointing out, “The whole programme is geared to precocious youngsters and speed, but then there are not enough races to place them in. The two-year-olds from Britain and Ireland come over and win all the top two-year-old races because France Galop is not giving us a programme. The early horse has got enough options at the start of the season, but some that are only starting now have no races at their optimum distance.

“The biggest problem for two-year-olds is if they can’t run over 7f (1400m) by September, then basically they’re screwed. There is almost nothing for them at 5f (1000m)—maybe a few 6f (1200m) races for horses that have not run before. It’s really hard to find a race for them over a shorter distance, especially within a reasonable travel distance from the yard.”

Gavin Hernon agrees, pointing out, “There are races there for the sprinter, but from 1 September to the end of November, there are only two conditions races on a straight track and only five races under 1400m (7f). I think there will be more focus put on those opportunities in the future—it’s part of the France Galop plan. The programme is good for the mile to 2400m (12f) two-year-old, but people don’t buy those horses. Even in August, we’re already having 1800m (9f) maidens, and in September we have 2000m (10f) races.”

In Germany, the later spring and later foals dictate the programme to an extent, with two-year-olds not starting until May, and many of them the middle-distance three-year-old in the making, around which the programme is designed. However, the programme is not the biggest difficulty German trainers are facing.

“We can’t start our two-year-olds earlier than May, and nearly 20% of our two-year-olds in training start,” explains Dominik Moser. “I don’t mind this. I like to protect them, and I’m not under pressure from my owners. They’re not thinking about a two-year-old career; they prefer to wait for the big races for three- and four-year-olds. 

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Stable standards - are racecourses forgetting the horse?

The thoroughbred industry is fairly diverse, with factions arguing their own importance.

Without breeders, we have no horse. Without owners, we have no racing. And without the racehorse, we have no need of racecourses. Racecourse Manager Bill Farnsworth identifies this basic point when he speaks of the stabling facilities at Musselburgh. But sadly, many racecourses in Britain and Ireland are missing the point altogether, and the horse—as Farnsworth refers to an athlete—is the least of their priorities.

The image of half a bale of shavings in a box at Killarney racecourse is a stark one. It is physically awkward to cut a bag and to carry an open bag.

How many of us would bother to go to such penny- pinching lengths at home? Indeed, one Irish trainer pointed out that the provision of just half a bale of shavings per box in a racing yard would certainly incur penalties from any IHRB (Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board) stable inspection. Although the IHRB does not include racecourse stabling standards within its Rules, its veterinary department accepts that half a bale is adequate for race day use. Yet in England, there has been at least one withdrawal due to the minor injuries sustained by a horse rolling in a box with inadequate shavings.

With multiple complaints from British and Irish trainers, a naming and shaming of offending racecourses would have made for a very long and already well-known list. Instead, we might look at those countries who have got it right throughout their tracks, and the racecourse in Britain consistently mentioned as setting the gold standard.

In Germany, trainers seem surprised to be asked about the quality of racecourse stables. Dominik Moser is typical when he explains, “We don’t have a problem with racecourse stabling—90% are on straw, 10% shavings; and where we have shavings, we have three bales per box. The cost of straw has increased this year due to the heavy rains and slight shortage, but it isn’t a problem. I like to see good- sized boxes. I don’t like to see a horse lying down if it doesn’t have enough room.”

Similarly, it isn’t lack of bedding that’s an issue in France but sometimes in the province’s lack of stabling. “We have no problem with hygiene or bedding at racecourse stables,” Gavin Hernon says, “but the problem we have is at smaller tracks when there might be no stable available or we could be sharing with an earlier runner. To be fair, I’ve never had a complaint.”

In recent years, in cases of positive post-race tests in France, the most common cause has been cited as contamination of racecourse stabling, which has led to much more stringent hygiene. “I suppose you could say that one good thing, as a result of that, is that now when you come to the racecourse stables, each box has a plastic seal and you have to break it to enter,” reveals Gina Rarick. “So we can be sure that every box has been disinfected and has clean straw.

“Most of our bedding in France is straw, and there is always enough at the races. If you want to have shavings instead, you have to book in advance and it’s quite expensive. You’ll pay €50-€60, and for that you’ll only be given two bales.

“The worst case I found was in Lyon—there was so much straw in the box and such a lot of dust, the horse started coughing immediately. Deauville always has plenty of bedding, and they use good quality straw. It’s really nicely done, and I find they are really accommodating. Other racecourses can be hit and miss; there is no rule on any set standard.”

Like Hernon, Rarick finds it is the lack of boxes that can be an issue at smaller tracks, particularly after a long journey to get there. Bear in mind that some tracks can be more than eight hours from the main training centres. “The biggest problem I find is that sometimes there are not enough boxes; and at some racecourses out in the country, there are none at all. You are working from the truck,” she says. “When there are too many runners and not enough boxes, the later runners use the same boxes as the earlier runners, which is not really great if you have a later runner. And then in contrast, you might get Chantilly, for example, (who uses) the number of available boxes as an excuse not to have a race; while at other racecourses, they are happy to double up.”

And Rarick raises another point when she notes, “I think it’s unique to France, but there is also a security issue. It seems as though anyone can just wander into the racecourse stables with very few questions asked. So if you’re concerned about that and your horse’s safety, you have to take it upon yourself to be looking after your horse for the whole time it’s there. But really, I think as trainers we kind of like that—not having to be constantly showing the right passes at every gate. It’s very relaxed.”

So that, at least, is how ‘the other half ’ live with the complaint of too much straw, no doubt breaking many Irish hearts. Like in France and Germany, the standard of stabling at Irish racecourses is not written into the Rules.

Michael Grassick, CEO of the IRTA (Irish Racehorse Trainers Association) explains, “It’s at the discretion of the racecourse, but half a bale of shavings is standard, with paper available as an alternative on request. I know a lot comes down to the cost, but the reason behind the half bale is that if there were a deeper bed, it would encourage the horse to roll. We don’t have overnight stays here in Ireland, and horses don’t have so far to travel to the races; so it’s not the issue it is in the UK or some other countries. I would say 99% of trainers find the stabling at Irish racecourses reasonable.”

However, several trainers, including those based in Northern Ireland who still come under the IHRB jurisdiction, are far from happy. With so much media attention on equine welfare, the argument is that half a bale of shavings is totally insufficient for a horse, which might arrive at the races four hours early.

Amanda Mooney

Amanda Mooney tells us, “I am a small trainer in County Meath, and horses are everything to me. All are treated as individuals in my yard and all their needs met to a high standard. I am at a loss when I go racing and feel it’s so wrong that a top athlete—who needs a good thick bed underneath them to pee or feel relaxed—is then asked to deliver what they are trained for, but it is not made comfortable by racecourses.

“As instructed by the IHRB veterinarian, they only need half a bag of shavings in the stable at the racecourse even though they could be stood in the stable for a good few hours before and after their race. If I were to leave a racehorse in a stable at home with just half a bag of shavings on concrete, would this be acceptable to a vet?”

Most trainers raised the issue of the horse’s reluctance to urinate where lack of bedding caused splashing. A comparison to eventing was made, where temporary boxes are made up to match the comfort the horse would be used to at home.

The provision of a safe, non-slip area for trotting up for veterinary inspections was another common appeal. Amanda Mooney points out, “I have a horse who has a very slightly enlarged fetlock, which has never given him any problems and was like this when purchased from Godolphin. I, like all trainers in Ireland when getting our licence, have undertaken to look after all the horses in my care to a top standard, which includes not running a horse if lame or sore. Every time he runs, he is subjected to rigorous joint movement and then required to trot up, which I’ve refused on the grounds of unsuitable surfaces. I have even given a full vet report on the horse for all vets to read at the course.

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What does the future hold for Maisons-Laffitte racecourse and training centre?

By Katherine Ford

A visitor arriving at Maisons-Laffitte from Paris is greeted as he crosses the bridge over the Seine by a spectacular view of the town’s 15th century baroque chateau. Signage announces arrival in ‘Maisons-Laffitte, Cité du Cheval’. 

The racecourse is currently inactive, but the town still revolves very much around the horse, of which approximately 1,000—half of them racehorses—are stabled in the wooded parkland. Supporters of the racecourse hope that a project will be validated to see the track reopen as soon as 2023, while the training community is revitalised following a 1.5 million Euro investment in facilities, and the team is keen to attract new professionals. 

France Galop CEO Oivier Delloye explains, ‘The situations with the racecourse and the training centre are two separate subjects. France Galop is focused upon ensuring continuity for the training centre. We have not closed the door to the possibility of racing returning to Maisons-Laffitte, but if this does happen, it will not be organised by France Galop. 

‘There is no racing currently planned for Maisons-Laffitte, and none for next year or in the future unless new elements enter the picture. France Galop is working in partnership with the town council because if there is to be a future for the track, it will certainly involve both parties; and the mayor is very keen for the racecourse to re-open. The idea is to seek a new economic model to make use of the buildings and facilities and therefore finance their upkeep, while France Galop would contribute the prize money and a share of the maintenance costs. This is the model used for provincial racecourses in France, and the system works; however, the costs involved in Maisons-Laffitte are higher than at the country tracks. It is important that any racing at Maisons-Laffitte in the future be organised to a high standard in accordance with the track’s status as a Parisian and premium track. 

‘Earlier this year, France Galop published a call for expressions of interest and will analyse which projects could be compatible with a commercial exploitation of the racecourse and buildings, in conjunction with the organization of racing. We have received a number of dossiers including some quite creative concepts—from varying profiles of operators to envisaging different ways of promoting the site, which is recognised as being exceptional. The responses are a mixed bag with some quite structured and some more exotic ideas. We hope to be able to select one or two projects to work on a viable business plan. France Galop will not validate any project unless we are certain of its financial sustainability as the last thing we want is for the racecourse to open and then close again shortly after, or for the new operator to lose money and call in the racing authorities to help out. The whole process will be carried out in full consultation with the town of Maisons-Laffitte and in a best-case scenario, racing could return in 2023’.

Ironically, when the racecourse was closed by France Galop to reduce expenditure, the French racing authority announced an ambitious investment programme of 1.5€ million to modernise and improve the town’s racehorse training facilities. Olivier Delloye is pleased with the results: ‘I visited Maisons-Laffitte last week and found that there was a very positive atmosphere with trainers optimistic about the future. It is clear that the professionals based in Maisons-Laffitte have not lost clients due to the closure of the racecourse, and recent results show that the facilities are perfectly adapted for training all types of horses—from juveniles to top milers and the best steeple-chasers of Auteuil’.

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