IRISH racing’s largest sponsor, the Irish European Breeders’ Fund, has again increased its prize money contribution for the year.

Exactly a year ago the Irish EBF announced a €300,000 increase in prize money contributions, bringing the total invested for 2020 to €2.5 million. Now another €100,000 has been added for 2021.

It brings the overall contribution to €52 million since the Irish EBF was founded in 1983. The money will fund over 320 flat races and 160 National Hunt races that carry EBF conditions throughout the year.

This includes the 26 races in the Median Sires Series, each worth a minimum of €25,000, and the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes which will be worth a minimum of €200,000.

The Irish EBF Auction Series will be worth €695,000, covering 25 qualifiers and the €120,000 final at Naas in October.

Some 95% of two-year-old maidens in Ireland are supported by the Irish EBF, along with 33% of the three-year-old maidens, a series of three-year-old and upwards fillies’ handicaps, as well as four €125,000 premier handicaps staged on Irish Champions Weekend.

The National Hunt spend by Irish EBF focuses on enhancing the mares’ programme, which was recently boosted by the newly co-sponsored €120,000 Grade 1 Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The IRE Incentive Scheme, funded by Horse Racing Ireland, which awards a €10,000 sales voucher to owners of Irish-bred winners, will be an added feature on a large number of Irish EBF supported races such as two-year-old fillies’ maidens, two-year-old auction maidens, two-year-old median sire series races and three-year-old median auction races on the flat.

For the National Hunt sector both the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series races and the Irish EBF Auction Bumper Series will offer this bonus to winners carrying the IRE suffix.

John O’Connor, Irish EBF chairman, said: “I would like to thank all the Irish stallion farms, large and small, who fund the Irish EBF and put us in a position to increase the annual sponsorship of Irish racing and allow us to continue to provide many valuable options to owners and trainers of horses of both codes.

“The Irish EBF board would also like to sincerely thank Foran Equine for their wonderful support over the last four years with the auction series. It has quickly grown and established itself as a prominent feature on the Irish flat racing programme and we are delighted to be in a position to maintain prize-money levels this year with the ongoing support of Horse Racing Ireland.”