Kavanagh: ‘I Agree With Johnny – We Can’t Rest On Our Laurels With Prize-Money’

Brian Kavanagh has said that he agrees completely with Johnny Murtagh's assertion that Ireland should not be “resting on its laurels” when it comes to prize-money while Irish Racehorse Trainers Association [IRTA] chief Ryan McElligott expressed a wish that the Curragh boss's decision to up the minimum prize fund at the track to €20,000 could stir up similar change among other racecourses. 

Leopardstown, Ireland's only other Group 1 Flat track, has followed the Curragh's lead in raising its basement prize-money levels to €15,000. However, leading trainers Joseph O'Brien and Ado McGuinness echoed Murtagh's point that prize-money needs to rise at every level in order to keep the higher-class horses in training in Ireland. 

O'Brien said, “We are very lucky in Ireland to have the prize-money levels that we have and to have a government that appreciates our industry. Going forward, we have to be sure that the owners in Ireland–as they do now–want to continue to race their high-class horses in Ireland. “The fundamental thing, when encouraging people to breed and race in Ireland, is to have attractive levels of prize-money. At the moment, we are very lucky to have good prize-money but it could be better, and it is something that everyone has to be very conscious of going forward.”

He added, “We need to encourage owners to race horses in Ireland for their two- and three-year-old careers at a minimum. As the horses get older, they can compete on the international stage. The best way to encourage that is by increasing the prize-money levels across the board domestically. There are good incentives, like the Ballyhane Stakes for example, and there are other target races out there, but we need more of them. We need valuable races to encourage people to keep their Listed/Group 3 horses here and racing for longer. It is prize-money that drives investment in the industry which trickles all the way back down to trainers, jockeys, work riders, farriers and everyone else who is employed within the industry.”

When announcing that no race at the Curragh would be contested for less than €20,000 this season, former Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Kavanagh referenced how the money generated from World Pool helped drive extra income which was then regenerated into prize-money at the track. 

It is speculated that the gross revenue generated from World Pool is €500,000 per fixture. That figure is split roughly 70-30 between the racecourse in question and the Tote. 

Joseph O'Brien: says he was forced to trade a lot of his Classic prospects | Tattersalls

Kavanagh commented, “We would put a priority on prize-money and would like to do more going forward. This year, we've grown our prize-money from €14.2m to €15.3m for the year. We've upped a couple of the Group 1 races as well-the Tattersalls Gold Cup goes up from €450,000 to €500,000 and the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes will go for €300,000 to €350,000. But across the board, we have tried to increase the prize-money. We try to ensure a sponsor for every race–that's our objective here–and that helps. 

“Also, we are putting some of our own resources here at the Curragh into driving prize-money forward. That has been well received but it's only a step in the right direction. We'd like to do more in the coming years on that front. The good thing about raising prize-money, it creates momentum. So, when we raise the minimum value of races, it has a knock-on effect on the next level and the next level after that.”

When asked if the extra income generated by World Pool was the main contributing factor to raising the minimum prize-money levels, Kavanagh responded, “It's a help. We generate media rights through a number of different sources and the World Pool has emerged in the past couple of years as a source. That is one of the areas where we draw our revenue from and that's how our media rights revenue has grown. Look, it's very simple from the Curragh's point of view, we see ourselves as the industry's racecourse. If we make money, it goes to either promoting events here, developing our facilities or driving prize-money. We will always want to offer competitive prize-money and we need to take an international view towards prize-money. If you look at other jurisdictions, we need to ensure our prize-money is competitive in comparison.”

The latest media rights deal for Irish racing is rumored to be worth roughly €250m over a five-year-period with around 80 per cent of the money said to be going directly to the racecourses. 

Only a handful of Irish racecourses have the luxury of being selected for World Pool races with Kavanagh outlining a hope that the number of races added to the international schedule can grow in future. 

“That's the objective,” he said. “That is dependent on legislation in Hong Kong in particular. They have had restrictions on the number of World Pool days that they can offer. Those restrictions have loosened slightly. Last year for example, we had the Irish Derby card, but this year we have added two races-the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup-to the World Pool, so that is very welcome. 

“We will always work with the Hong Kong authorities and the UK Tote Group to drive that further but it is contingent on quality international racing and strong field sizes as well.”

While the raising of the minimum prize levels at the Curragh and Leopardstown was welcomed by IRTA members, it doesn't get away from the fact that many premier handicaps, listed and Group 3 races continue to be run for the same money-and in some cases less money-than over a decade previously. 

The Group 3 Park Express S. is a good example of that. Run for a total purse of €100,000 in 2007, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Brilliant (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) took home just €41,100.00 for winning the prize at Irish racing's HQ on the opening day of the season. The total prize on offer was €68,500.

IRTA boss Ryan McElligott | Tattersalls Ireland

McElligott said, “Prize-money is unquestionably a pressing concern for trainers throughout the country. There exists a substantial level of concern that prize-money levels have dropped off from the levels they were at in the first decade of this century. Admittedly, the fixture list has grown, and obviously more fixtures means that the slices of the cake gets smaller. As a major racing jurisdiction, we have to be able to present a prize-money schedule that is attractive to international owners and incentivises people to keep horses in training in Ireland. That is vital.”

He added, “The Curragh have taken the decision to put a minimum value on every race run at the track this season, which is commendable, and I would hope that this could lead to similar movement up and down the country.” 

McGuinness, one of the most upwardly mobile trainers in the country, was responsible for five of the 23 Irish-trained runners at Lingfield, Newcastle and Chelmsford on Good Friday. 

The second most successful trainer at Dundalk behind O'Brien throughout the past five years, McGuinness pointed to a lack of valuable end-of-season targets on home shores on the all-weather for the horses he travelled to Britain last week. 

He explained, “I won three races at the end-of-season fixture at Dundalk and I got €27,000 for the three races in total prize-money. I sent out Star Harbour (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to finish fourth at Newcastle last week and he earned €14,000. I just feel that something has to be done.”

McGuinness added, “I have to clap the Curragh on the back for raising their minimum prize-money levels. Fair play to them. Maybe other tracks will take note and do the same. But, the prize-money for the listed and Group 3 races in Ireland remains too low compared to England and abroad. 

“Not only that, but I won the Joe McGrath Handicap at the Curragh in 2009 with Toufan Express (GB) (Fraam {GB}). He picked up €34,503 for that success. Laugh A Minute (GB) (Mayson {GB}) won the same race last year and picked up only €26,550. How does that make sense?”

O'Brien concluded that, in its current format, the domestic prize-money on offer is not enough to sustain a training operation as big as his Owning Hill.

He explained, “Ultimately, we are traders. It's obvious when you look at our top two-year-olds from last year and where they are in training now. A lot of them have been traded on to Hong Kong and America. 

“Sadly, that means we won't be as well-represented as we could have been in the Classics this season because those horses are now racing abroad. That is the bottom line. We understand that and we do what's right for our owners. A lot of that time, that means we have to trade. Sometimes that means we race them on. But the fact of the matter is, people have to trade the way things are with prize-money at the moment.”

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Goffs Million Transformed Into Goffs Two Million Series Beginning At 2023 Orby Sale

The Goffs Million, the richest 2-year-old race in Europe, will be rebranded as the Goffs Two Million Series at the 2023 Goffs Orby Sale, the sales company announced on Friday.

In addition, the Orby and Sportsman's Sales will now be known as Orby Book 1 and Orby Book 2 and will be held from Sept. 26-29. The series is open to all yearlings catalogued in the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 and Book 2, and more than 1,000 yearlings will be offered across the two books. The 2023 seven-furlong Goffs Million is open to qualified graduates of the 2022 Orby Sale, will have a guaranteed minimum value of €1 million, and will be conducted at the Curragh on Saturday, Sept. 23.

The Goffs Two Million Series will incorporate:

  • The Goffs Million, contested over seven furlongs at the Curragh on the Saturday before the 2024 sale. With a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €1 million, and offer prize-money to 10th place.
  • The Goffs 500, contested over seven furlongs at The Curragh on the Saturday before the 2024 sale. With a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €500,000 and prize money to 10th place, it will be staged on the same day as the Goffs Million ensuring that at least €1.5 Million is open to Orby graduates on the eve of the 2024 Orby Sale.
  • The Goffs €50,000 Bonus Series which will see €50,000 Goffs Bonuses awarded to the winners of a series of 2-year-old maidens run throughout the 2024 season at various Irish racecourses when that winner is a qualified Orby graduate. A programme of diverse 2-year-old maidens carrying the unique Goffs €50,000 Bonus will be published with a total of €500,000 distributed to 10 winning connections between the start of the season and Million Day at the Curragh.

 

“The new Goffs Two Million Series takes the Million concept to a new level and seeks to make the Irish National Yearling Sale unmissable for both Irish breeders and international buyers,” Goffs Group Chief Executive Harry Beeby said. “The primary issue facing British and Irish racing is prize-money and this initiative confronts it head on as we evolve the idea and provide a huge pay day where the focus is on the owners and trainers that invest in Orby yearlings as well as spreading the rewards throughout the season and across the country.

“Orby Book 1 and Book 2 are designed to represent the best of Irish yearlings at all levels of the market and our call to Irish breeders is to support the Irish National Yearling Sale with your best as Goffs will deliver and exceed your expectations. Goffs will continue to invest in our global buyer attraction campaign that saw so many buyers at Kildare Paddocks last year and the only complaint was that they wanted more top tier yearlings as they have the orders and don't go elsewhere. This latest attraction will only drive more buyers to Orby to buy as their first choice.”

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive at The Curragh, added, “Goffs are a long and highly valued partner here at the Curragh and are a pleasure to work with. They are always innovating, and the new Goffs Two Million Series is a perfect example of this approach. It will provide a major incentive to owners who purchase yearlings at the Irish National Yearling Sale and create an enhanced race day experience at the Curragh the weekend before their sale. There was great excitement when Galeron (Ire) (Camacho {Ire}) took the first Million race here last September and the addition of the second race and the 2-year-old bonus series will bring this incentive to a higher level. Goffs also sponsor the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. on Irish Champions Weekend and their graduates regularly win our best races here at the Curragh. We greatly look forward to working with them on this new venture–the Goffs Two Million Series.”

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Tattersalls Maintains Sponsorship Of Irish Guineas Festival

Tattersalls will continue sponsoring the Irish Guineas Festival and the three associated Group 1 races, the Curragh Racecourse announced on Tuesday.

The sponsorship, which was extended an additional three years from 2023-2025, sees the €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup-with increased prize-money of €450,000–set to be contested at the Curragh during the three-day festival from May 26-28, 2023.

Edmond Mahony, Chairman Tattersalls, said, “The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival is one of the premier fixtures not only of the Irish racing calendar, but also of the wider European Flat racing scene and we are proud to have the Tattersalls name associated with such an important weekend of racing and more specifically, with three of Ireland's most prestigious races. We are already looking forward to the 2023 Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival and to working with the Curragh Racecourse for the next three years of this flagship sponsorship agreement.”

Tattersalls graduate Native Trial (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was an impressive winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas last year, while Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) won the 1000 Guineas for Moyglare Stud, Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes. The first entry stage for both Classics has already closed, with some of the highest rated 2-year-olds from last year signed on, including:  Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) and Proud and Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among the entries for the Irish 2000 Guineas. In the fillies' equivalent, Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), Statuette (Justify), Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Fairy Cross (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Treasure Trove (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) feature.

Curragh CEO Brian Kavanagh said, “Tattersalls are a long and valued supporter of Irish racing and in particular the Curragh. They are a pleasure to work with and today's announcement of a three-year extension of their sponsorship of three of our most important Group 1 races is very welcome news. The 2022 renewals of these races each provided great stories and we look forward to working with Tattersalls to further grow and develop the races over the coming years.”

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Juddmonte And Keeneland Continue Their Curragh Race Sponsorship

Juddmonte and Keeneland have renewed their sponsorships of the Curragh's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Phoenix S., respectively.

The feature race of the two-day Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend on Saturday, July 22, the Juddmonte Irish Oaks has been won three times by horses carrying the Juddmonte colours with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (2017), Bolas (GB) (Unfuwain) (1994) and Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave) in 1993. Currently there are 87 first entries for the €500,000 summer Classic, including Juddmonte's debut winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Juddmonte started as the sponsor of the G2 Beresford S. in 1988; sponsored the G1 Pretty Polly S. in 2018, and began sponsoring the Irish Oaks in 2020.

Douglas Erskine-Crum, CEO of Juddmonte, said “Juddmonte is delighted to renew our sponsorship of the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. It is extremely important to Juddmonte to support Irish racing and breeding and appreciate its sizeable contribution to the wider industry; we feel the Irish Oaks and Curragh racecourse are perfectly placed to demonstrate this commitment.”

Brian Kavanagh, CEO Curragh Racecourse, Ltd., said “We are delighted to be able to announce the extension of Juddmonte's sponsorship of the Irish Oaks and look forward to a quality renewal as always in July. Juddmonte have been fantastic supporters of the Curragh and of the industry here in Ireland for many years as owners, breeders and sponsors and we greatly look forward to our continued partnership with them in this prestigious race. The Irish Oaks has been won by some wonderful fillies over the years, including the great Enable in 2017.”

Starting their sponsorship of the Phoenix S. in 2010, Keeneland will extend their commitment to the race for another three years. In 2022, Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) took the prize and was crowned Europe's Champion 2-Year-old with a mark of 124. Prize-money will increase to €350,000 in 2024 and then €400,000 in 2025.

Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland, said, “Keeneland's close connection with the Irish bloodstock and racing industries goes back many decades and we are delighted to celebrate that ongoing bond with the continuation of this longstanding sponsorship.

“We witnessed Little Big Bear win one of the best renewals of the Keeneland Phoenix S. last season, with a performance that this week saw him crowned Europe's champion juvenile, and we look forward to working with the Curragh to continue to grow the race in future years.”

Added Kavanagh, “Keeneland have been a valued partner for the Curragh for many years and we are delighted to be able to announce this extension and enhancement of their sponsorship. They are a pleasure to deal with and the ties between Keeneland and the Irish racing and breeding industries have become stronger in recent years. Their commitment to increasing prize-money for the race over the next three years is most welcome and we greatly look forward to working with Keeneland on this sponsorship.”

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