The Irish European Breeders’ Fund (Irish EBF), the largest sponsor in Irish racing, has announced a record-breaking sponsorship commitment of €3.2 million for 2026. Funded by Irish Stallion Farms, this investment represents a 100% increase in annual contributions compared to just a decade ago. This funding will complement the strategic prize money increases recently pledged by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), racehorse owners and racecourses as part of a three-year industry growth strategy.

Beyond direct race funding in Ireland, Irish EBF also supports vital Irish initiatives including Treo Eile, Irish Champions Weekend, ITM Barrier Trials, and the recently launched ITBA Next Generation Breeders’ Grant. This brings the organization’s total industry contribution to over €66 million since 1983.

Key highlights of the 2026 Irish EBF flat racing contribution include:

  • All Irish EBF two-year-old maidens will now run for a minimum of €22,000.
  • Every race within the Irish EBF two-year-old Auction Series will carry an increased minimum prize fund of €25,000 with the target €120,000 Auction Series Final at Naas in October.
  • The Median Sires Series will continue to carry a minimum prize fund of €25,000 with the €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes as a highlight of the series on August Bank Holiday Monday.
  • The Smullen Series: Honouring the late Pat Smullen, all two-year-old and three-year-old races in the series will be worth €25,000, culminating in the €200,000 Gowran Classic on June Bank Holiday Monday and kicking off again in July with the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas.
  • Birdcatcher Nursery Series: To stimulate the nursery handicap program, a new series will debut leading to the traditional Birdcatcher Premier Nursery in October.

    • Irish EBF’s highlights for the National Hunt sector:

  • Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Expansion: This series will see an expanded race program and significantly widened eligibility criteria. In a move to support a broader range of owners and breeders, the series is no longer restricted to store-bought horses; it will now welcome horses purchased at all ages, while homebreds will also be eligible to compete based on their sire’s median price.
  • Irish EBF Academy Hurdle Series: The Irish EBF Academy Hurdle Series is set to expand for the 2026/2027 National Hunt season.

    • Joe Foley, Irish EBF Chairman, said; “It is very encouraging to see HRI prioritizing prize money for 2026 and the Irish EBF Governors are delighted to play their part by committing a record €3.2 million to the Irish prize money fund this year. We welcome HRI's ambitious three-year plan to achieve increased prize money levels and to ensure its success, we look to Minister Martin Heydon and his Department to provide the vital extra funding required to sustain Ireland’s world-leading bloodstock and racing industry.”

    Jonathan Mullin, Horse Racing Ireland, Director of Racing, commented; “From the very outset of planning around a three-year prize money strategy for Irish racing, the Irish EBF were enthusiastic supporters and contributors, which tallies with their generous support towards prize money levels in Ireland for many decades.

    "The 2026 contribution from the Irish EBF is a record €3.2m and will target strong minimum values in a wide category of two-year-old races, including a new series of enhanced nursery races, as well as planned expansions in the Auction and Academy hurdle categories. The Irish EBF’s contribution to prizemoney comes from voluntary contributions from stallion farms all over Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland is hugely appreciative of this long-standing investment.”