Matchbook’s £100,000 bonus boosts EBF race series to further enhance the stayers’ programme

A series of races created in 2015 by the BHA and the British European Breeders’ Fund to boost the stayers’ programme, has been provided with a huge financial boost. Matchbook Betting Exchange have teamed up with the EBF to match the EBF’s prize money contribution and put in place a £100,000 bonus for any winner from the series who goes on to win a Group 1 race over 10 furlongs or more in the UK and Ireland in their three year old year.

The Matchbook EBF Future Stayers’ Series consists of 16 races, all with an increased minimum prize value of £14,000, are open to the progeny of stallions and mares that had won over distances of 10 furlongs or more. The series begins at Yarmouth on August 7 and runs through to Chelmsford on December 13. Each of the races, to be run over at least 7f, will be worth a minimum of £14,000 and the series has a total value of £283,000.

The facts
• 16 races run across 13 racecourses from August to December over a minimum distance of 7 furlongs.
• First race run at Yarmouth on the 7th of August.
• Minimum prize value £14,000 and a total series value of £283,000.
• £100,000 bonus for any winner in the series who goes on to win a Group 1 in the UK or Ireland over 10 furlongs or more in their three-year-old year.
• £100,000 split as follows – £70,000 owner, £10,000 breeder, £10,000 trainer, £10,000 stable staff of trainer’s yard, at least £1,000 of which to go to the winning groom.
• Star graduates include Cracksman, Stradivarius, Across The Stars, Royal Marine and Line of Duty.

Philip Mitchell, Chairman of the EBF said: “The bonus is eminently winnable – if it had been in place in the 2016 season for example, Cracksman would have been the first recipient. He won an EBF sire/dam restricted race at Newmarket towards the end of the 2016 season and then went on to win the Champions’ Stakes (Gr.1) at Ascot over 1m2f at the end of his three-year-old career.”

Matchbook CEO Mark Brosnan said: “Matchbook are extremely passionate about the future of horse racing and we want our sponsorships to make a difference, whilst also providing exposure for our brand. We are incredibly excited to partner with the EBF on this innovative initiative, which we believe supports the grassroots of the sport. Horses like Stradivarius and Dee Ex Bee exemplify how this series provides an insight into the staying stars of the future.”

Charlie Appleby, Trainer of Line Of Duty, a star graduate of The Matchbook EBF Future Stayers’ Series, said: “It is fantastic to see the EBF supporting and promoting a better programme for middle distance and future staying type horses. The sire/dam restricted races are a great initiative and provide an excellent platform for potential top class horses of this type.”

Classic winning trainer, Hugo Palmer said:  “The Matchbook EBF Future Stayers’ Series will further help promote middle-distance and staying horses, which can only be a good thing for our sport. With 16 series races per season worth a minimum of £14,000 and an attractive potential bonus on offer the following year, it is an exciting time for trainers, owners and breeders alike.”

Ruth Quinn, Director of International Racing and Racing Development: “The Future Stayers project is a superb initiative which plays into the ever-evolving focus on developing and retaining staying talent here in Britain. There are now valuable incentives at multiple ages to encourage horses with an aptitude for stamina, and it is pleasing to see how the industry has come together to address an important challenge for the future of the sport and the breed.”

About Matchbook:
Matchbook is a peer to peer betting exchange focused on giving customers low commission, best prices and best liquidity. The exchange launched its horse racing product in 2016 and has been gradually expanding its sponsorship portfolio over the past 3 years. The key point of difference between Matchbook and other exchanges is that the platform is developed in house by their own technology team and constantly being evolved and improved to provide the best customer experience. Matchbook is also the highest rated exchange on TrustPilot.

About EBF:

Under the guidance and jurisdiction of the EBF Co-Ordinating Committee, the British EBF’s mandate is:
• To provide funds to support races of value to the thoroughbred that may otherwise be lost due to a lack of commercial attractiveness to racecourses.
• To implement new races that may be of benefit to the breed.
• To promote and support organisations whose purposes include assisting and
improving the breeding of thoroughbred horses.
• To provide financial support for equine research beneficial to the thoroughbred horse
• To ensure a minimum of 70% of 2yo maiden/novice races in GB carry EBF conditions are confined to EBF eligible runners.

What the British EBF does:

Since 1983, the British EBF has contributed over £34.5 million to prize money in British Racing and supports over 600 flat races and 80 national hunt races each season.
• British EBF currently invests over £1.7 million per year directly in to the prize money of races in GB and provides strategic support for races that promote the diversity of the breed and the race programme.
• Around 74% of this investment comes from contributions made by stud farms whose stallions stand in Great Britain.