New Smullen Series Launched By Irish EBF, Alongside Record €3.1 Million Irish Prize-Money Announcement

[Wandering Eyes]

The 18-race Smullen Series, targeting middle-distance 2- and 3-year-olds, was announced by the Irish European Breeders' Fund (Irish EBF) on Tuesday evening. Alongside that announcement, a record €3.1 million will be contributed by the Irish EBF to Ireland's overall prize-money in 2025. The Irish EBF is Irish racing's largest sponsor and it is funded by Irish stallion Farms. In addition, there are prize-money commitments of €150,000 to Irish EBF named races in the UK and for retired racehorses through Treo Eile, bringing the overall 2025 prize-money sponsorship amount to €3.25 million.

Regarding the new Smullen Series, it will include a new 2-year-old listed race at Naas Racecourse in July named in honour of Pat Smullen, the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes. The Spring Series of races originally designed for middle distance 3-year-old horses, including the valuable €200,000 Gowran Classic will become part of the overall Smullen Series that will provide trainers, owners and breeders of middle-distance horses valuable opportunities to race throughout the season.

To boost prize-money and interest in nursery races there will be three Irish EBF nursery handicaps each worth €40,000 starting with one in August, followed by the Auction Series Nursery at Cork Racecourse in September and culminating with the traditional Birdcatcher Premier Nursery at Naas Racecourse in October. The aim is to encourage horses eligible for these races to compete in one or all three of the nurseries to avail of the €120,000 of prize money on offer.

In addition, the Irish EBF can now confirm that all Curragh and Leopardstown 2-year-old EBF maiden races will each run for a minimum of €20,000 in 2025. All other 2-year-old Irish EBF maidens races in Ireland will be run for a minimum of €18,000. This compliments the €1.6 million of prize-money on offer for 2-year-olds in the successful Auction Series and the Median Sires Series which both include big race targets in the €120,000 Irish EBF Auction Series Final and the €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes.

Joe Foley, Irish EBF chairman, said, “The combined spend from Irish Stallion Farms to the industry is an enormous €3.25 million, that is €3.1 million directly to Irish prize-money plus €100,000 to Irish EBF named races in the UK and €50,000 to prize money at Treo Eile supported events for retired racehorses. This amount equates to 10% of what the government will spend on Irish prize money this year and showcases how significant the funding from Irish Stallion Farms is to the industry. The Irish EBF has flourished in the last 10 years when the annual contribution to racing was €1.6m, now it is a staggering €3.25m, double the amount in 2015, which is a credit to each and every stallion farm who contribute to the scheme year after year.”

Since the foundation of the Irish European Breeders' Fund in 1983, the overall contribution is over €63 million. All Irish EBF money is put directly into Irish Racing and encompasses nearly 500 races, both Flat and National Hunt, that will carry EBF conditions throughout the year.

As previously announced the Irish EBF will be the flagship sponsor of the new Academy Hurdle Series which will commence October 2025. This sponsorship reinforces the support the Irish European Breeders' Fund have consistently given to Irish National Hunt racing, breeding and sales with the following highlights. Fifty percent of the National Hunt allocation targeted at mares' chases, hurdle and bumper races, Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series worth nearly €400,000 with 16 qualifying races and a €75,000 final at the Punchestown Festival which is backed up by the Irish EBF Auction Bumper Series with six races worth €15,000 each over the season.

Added Jonathan Mullin, Horse Racing Ireland, director of racing, “Today's announcement of a record sponsorship figure for 2025 is another reminder of the vital role that the Irish EBF play in Irish racing. This investment in prize-money from the Irish EBF comes from voluntary contributions from stallion farms all over Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland is hugely appreciative of this long-standing investment.

“In 2024, the EBF and HRI targeted support towards later developing middle distance horses with higher value early season 3-year-old median auction maidens, and with the Irish EBF's help this strategy will be enhanced in 2025 with the advent of the Smullen Series. Named after an Irish racing hero, this series has as its ambition the promotion of horses bred for stamina and will see a new race enter the Pattern, the Pat Smullen Stakes for 2-year-olds over a mile at Naas in July, as well as increased values on a number of autumn 2-year-old maidens over a mile and a mile-plus.

“I want to also acknowledge the Irish EBF's title sponsorship of the upcoming Irish EBF Academy Hurdle series in October and thank them for their enthusiastic support of this new initiative for Irish National Hunt racing.”

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