British horseracing commercial group the Jockey Club has agreed a partnership with the UK arm of the European Breeders’ Fund.
The EBF has become an official partner of the Jockey Club in recognition of the major investment domestic stallion studs make into the British racing industry via the British EBF.
The partnership is designed to help heighten awareness within the industry of the contribution the British EBF is making to racing in the country, using the platform the Jockey Club can provide through its 15-strong group of racecourses nationwide.
Stephen Wallis, group director of international and racing relations at the Jockey Club, said: “The European Breeders’ Fund has been an integral part of the landscape of British racing for more than 30 years. We are proud to stage the largest number of EBF races at the Jockey Club’s racecourses and thus help to facilitate this important initiative for horsemen.
“We are very pleased to be working with the British EBF now as an official partner in the promotion of our sport and in support of our prize money aims. Hopefully the group-wide platform we offer will help to showcase to the industry what a significant contribution the British EBF is making to racing in this country.”
Since its launch in 1983, the European Breeders’ Fund has allocated over €100m ($119.7m) to the European racing industry. Established in 1983 as a self-help measure for the European racing industry with revenue being drawn from stallion fees, the fund is seen as the most important vehicle that the bloodstock industry uses to support and nurture racing throughout the member countries. The original participators of Britain, Ireland and France were joined in 1986 by Germany and Italy and by Switzerland in 1989.
Philip Mitchell, chairman of the British EBF, said: “We hope that this new relationship will increase the profile of the organisation and further understanding within the industry as to what we do and how we are funded. The Fund is still a vital tool to boost prize money which we could not provide without the support and generosity of the stallion masters.
“We are working with other racecourses and groups on similar projects to the group-wide partnership with the Jockey Club and its racecourses, and hope that the initiative that they have shown in approaching us will pave the way for further industry engagement.”