PLANS to increase dramatically the minimum prize money levels in Britain could be good news for Irish trainers who are struggling to win races in Ireland with their horses and are often left out of pocket on their cross-channel forays.

A long overdue rise in prize money for lesser British races is on the cards after the new levy system was brought into effect this week. The system finally brings online bookmakers into the levy system, a move which could yield an extra £20 for British racing.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust says that “grassroots prize money” will be one of the main areas targeted for extra funding. He told Racing UK that his board had already discussed raising the minimum prize money from £3,500 to £6,000.

Rust said: “We should have around £15 million to £20 million in addition to spend [per year] in future years. Decisions will be taken by the new racing authority which replaces the Levy Board from next year and will feature two members from the BHA, two from the racecourses and two from horsemen.

GRASSROOTS

“There are four areas the BHA would like to see money spent on and one is grassroots prize money, so we can retain owners in the sport and help ensure there are enough horses in training.

“One of the proposals we discussed was to see if we could lift total minimum prize money from £3,500 in most Class 4, 5 and 6 races to at least £6,000 including appearance money, which will have a major impact on about 70% of horses in training.

“The three other areas are promotion and growth of the sport, equine welfare - we need to continue to improve standards for our horses, reduce injuries and fatalities – and finally and very topically at the moment ensuring that we attract enough people and train them and look after them properly to come and work in British racing.

“The prize money side of things we are already working with racecourses and horsemen and plans are already well advanced.”