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Irish Prizemoney To Increase In 2022

Prizemoney in Ireland will reach €64.8-million in 2022, an increase from 2021 and second only to 2019 levels. That prizemoney will be paid out over 390 fixtures.

Horse Racing Ireland's 2022 budget also includes an increase in funding for the IRE Incentive Scheme, which will pay out €1.3-million in vouchers for Irish-bred horses at Irish sales; the scheme was worth €1.1-million this year. HRI will also increase funding for the point-to-point sector to a record €2.5-million. HRI will increase funds directed to industry education and training to €13.4-million, and approved a new €12-million racecourse capital development scheme.

“This is a strong budget which has its focus on restoring prizemoney, supporting growth for those earning their living in racing and breeding, investing in integrity and equine welfare, as well as a racecourse capital programme which is centred on ensuring appropriate industry facilities,” said Suzanne Eade, chief executive of HRI. “Framing the budget for the industry for 2022 was not without its challenges, but I'm very happy that we have been able to support the 390 fixtures scheduled for 2022 and with it the opportunities for horses and people at all levels of the industry, while at the same time increasing average prize money and bringing the total on offer to owners back to its second-highest level historically. We know from our ownership base the importance of prize money in attracting new people into our industry and retaining the owners already there, and in tandem with the prize money restoration, we will be investing in ensuring that owner base stays strong.

“Like most companies, we would have hoped to have been framing the industry budget for 2022 with the Covid-19 pandemic behind us but that sadly isn't the case. The impact of Brexit is far from behind us either in terms of its impact on the racing and breeding sector, so we had little hesitation in retaining the IRE Incentive Scheme for 2022 given the tremendous success it achieved in its first year of operation, with an uplift in the number of vouchers that will be paid out next year.

“After experiencing such huge difficulties in 2020 and early 2021, it was heartening to see the strong sales in the second half of the year, confirming the huge confidence there is in our product. There are other challenges too because of Brexit and insurance is one that we, and many other, industries are facing. We have extended our support to Point-to-Points to €2.5m–its highest level ever–recognising that insurance costs are a particular challenge in this sector.

“HRI is also conscious of the need to improve standards for all those working in the industry, especially when they go racing. We will therefore be launching a new €12m industry focused racecourse capital development scheme covering projects to be undertaken in 2022/23 to which HRI will provide €4.8m by means of 40% grant aid. This scheme will target improvements in key industry areas of the racecourse infrastructure such as the weigh room and stable yard, as well as financing work on the racetrack itself including the enhancement of watering systems.”

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Pointers Lead Goffs UK Autumn Sale

Point-to-pointers proved popular during the one-day Goffs UK Autumn Sale on Thursday, with trade topped by Music Drive (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) (lot 129). Offered by Colin Bowe's Milestone Stables, the 4-year-old Music Drive won a point-to-point at Monksgrange on Sept. 26, and was picked up by Aidan O'Ryan and Gordon Elliott for £90,000.

At the close of trade, 113 horses sold (66%) from 170 offered for an aggregate of £1,014,800 that was up 29% on last year. The average jumped 83% to £8,981, while the median climbed 67% to £5,000.

Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said, “It is always difficult to make direct comparisons between horses in training sales as any trade will be determined by the strength of the catalogue and the quality of the horses on offer. With that in mind, we were delighted with the strength of the sale and, as ever, we are indebted to all the vendors who put their trust in the Goffs UK team. We would obviously wish all buyers the best of luck with their new purchases, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Doncaster for the final time this year on Friday, Dec. 3.”

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NH Sale Catalogues To Recognize Point-To-Point Wins

Starting in January, British and Irish point-to-point winning performances will be designated as wins in sales designated as a National Hunt sale. Currently, British and Irish point-to-pointers are classified as runners, but not as winners in the horse subject detail or dam summary line. As part of this change, sales will now be designated as either flat or National Hunt. Flat sales will continue to not treat point-to-point victories as wins.

In a joint statement, Simon Kerins of Tattersalls Ireland and Nick Nugent of Goffs said, “This rule change gives greater clarity around the presentation of form in National Hunt catalogues. It addresses the clear anomaly whereby catalogues have listed any point-to-point performers to be runners for the dam, but do not consider a winner of such a contest to be a winner for the mare.”

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Global Views: Amateur Racing Is a Valuable Resource

In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. Second-year trainee Oz Wedmore examines the positive effects of amateur racing acting as a training ground for future professional jockeys.

Twitter spats are usually best avoided, being among the least productive ways to spend time on the internet. But what did Oscar Wilde say about temptation? Recently I relented and miraculously it proved worthwhile in providing an excuse to highlight the importance of the grassroots of racing.

When someone popped up to have a dig at estate agent and amateur jumps jockey David Maxwell for his misfortune in a race I felt compelled to reply. I still haven't watched the race that caused the minor uproar because I didn't get involved to defend David's riding; I did so because those who understand how important the grassroots of our sport are to its success on the world stage would never direct vitriol towards an amateur rider. People like David are important, and should never be the subject of scorn over their riding ability.

Some may see the amateur system as a vestige of racing's roots clinging to the professional sport we know today, but it's difficult to marry this claim against the disproportionate number of the world's top jockeys, both Flat and Jumps, coming from nations which have a healthy grassroots scene in the form of flapping, pony racing, point-to-points and races under rules restricted to amateur riders. This is something that all Europeans from the flappers in the bogs of Kerry to the cavaliers in the sunshine of Pau play a part in and should be proud of. It is why we see top level riders emerging from all over the continent–from Sardinia to County Antrim.

Just as in other sports, the amateur level serves a dual purpose as both a springboard and training ground for future stars in the saddle and a competitive circuit for non-professionals. Unsurprisingly and not unfairly, David Maxwell sits firmly in the latter category along with thousands of others. The attention he attracts comes only because he can afford to enjoy his hobby at the highest level. And who should deny him this? He is the embodiment of a gentleman amateur: unfailingly polite, humble and self-deprecating both on- and off-camera. Do not forget that by placing horses in training he is supporting jobs, vendors, racecourses and so on.

Obviously this is a luxury few can afford. Despite the comprehensive education offered to complete novices by the racing schools in England, Ireland and France, the barrier to entry for jockeys is still high and as a consequence nepotism is an often unfair accusation which faces some of horseracing's prominent figures. When it comes to jockeys it is hardly surprising that some of the world's best are related to some of the world's best from previous eras (or the same era in some cases). It's hardly surprising because top-level riding is not just in one's genes, it comes through experience. And who is most likely get the necessary years of practice? Those born into it.

There are of course exceptions but none arrive at the point of professionalism without the long hours of requisite practice. The 'nepotism' extant in our sport only serves to prove that the grassroots are vital, they provide the platform for the practice needed to nurture future top jockeys. Any number of current professionals at the top of their game can attest to this, but to name just three: Sam Twiston-Davies (point-to-point); Tom Marquand (pony racing); David Egan (flapping).

Those in David Maxwell's category should not be judged against aspiring professionals because clearly, in his 40s and riding exclusively in his own colours, he has no aspiration to join their ranks. Nor do many others who make the jumps game in particular such a peculiar and entertaining sphere and a game of great battlers (horses and humans alike)–quite literally in the case of Guy Disney, the first person to be signed off by the BHA to ride with a prosthetic limb. However, far from just making up the numbers, the 'traditional' amateurs are helping to keep the standard of grassroots racing high with their investment in the sport. If David Maxwell happens to be turned over when odds-on I'd sooner comment on the strength of our grassroots racing, or perhaps the talent of his rivals, than his ability in the saddle.

Call amateur racing a vestige if you like, but instead I'll summarise my point by rehashing the old adage: practice makes the best professional jockeys in the world.

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