British European Breeders Fund

British European Breeders' Fund The European Breeders' Fund (EBF) was established in 1983 by a group of British owner/ breeders in response to a prize money funding crisis in the 2yo programme.

Since its foundation, it has provided over €150,000,000 in prize money across its member countries of Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy.

The British EBF

Financially supports races that promote and develop a horse's career
Support organisations whose purposes include assisting and improving the breeding of Thoroughbred horses
Provide financial support for equine research beneficial to the Thoroughbred horse

The British EBF contributes around £1.9million each year to the prize money of British Horseracing. These contributions are generously provided from the earnings of British based stallions.

All British EBF contributions must be shown above the BHA Minimum Value of a race, meaning any EBF race in GB will be run at between £1,000 and £25,000 above the minimum.

How it works

A stallion can be registered to the EBF resulting in all its progeny automatically being EBF qualified for life

If a horse is by a non-EBF stallion, it can be individually opted in to the EBF by its owner for a fee

Once EBF qualified a horse is eligible to run in any EBF race throughout Europe

Nearly 1,000 flat races a year carry EBF conditions and financial contributions

Over 80% of two-year-old races in GB are confined to EBF eligible horses

In addition to the regular 2yo programme, the EBF support a range of developmental races and special projects to enhance the diversity of the programme. These are usually: fillies' handicaps, conditions races, high-value maiden and novice races

EBF support National Hunt racing focusing on programmes for fillies and mares

Current Projects British EBF £100,000 2yo Series EBF eligible 2yos can qualify for 1 of 2 £100,000 finals at Goodwood (Fillies) and York (Colts & Geldings) by being placed 1st - 6th in any EBF 2yo Restricted Novice or Maiden.

A full list of qualifiers, qualified horses and race conditions for the finals can be found on the news section of the EBF website: ebfstallions.com/news

Future Stayers' Races EBF eligible 2yos that have a sire or dam that won over ten furlongs or further can benefit from a high-value start to their racing career in 1 of 11 races. Details of these races can be found on the BHA Racing Admin site (race series pages)

Mares' Chase, Hurdle and NH Flat Race Series EBF eligible National Hunt bred mares can benefit from running in any EBF National Hunt race. Each series (no qualification necessary) culminates in a high-value finale. NH Flat Race Final: Sandown; Hurdle Final: Newbury; Chase Final: Cheltenham.

Rachael Gowland
British EBF Marketing and Communications Manager