The Racing Post Breeze-up Bonus Scheme

Launched in 2009 by Breeze-up Vendors and hugely valuable to all owners of breeze-up sales graduates,with the majority of 2009 Bonus winners receiving £10,000 from a prize pool of around £500,000. The 2010 Racing Post Breeze-Up Bonus Scheme will carry a similar prize-fund the only key difference it's goal to reward 100 (double the 2009 figure) winning graduates of a two-year-old maiden or Stakes race with a £5,000 bonus - the equivalent in many cases to doubling your prize-money for just one victory. It's no wonder that the leading players in the industry are right behind it once again.

Starting immeditely after the Goffs' Kempton Breeze-Up Sale on March 12, the scheme embraces all two-year-old
maidens, 'nurseries, conditaions, Listed or Group races in Europe. The first winner of the' 2009 bonus scheme, Lady Lube Rye, owned by D & S L Tinker Transport Ltd, came at Redcar, on April 30, with 2009 payments continuing until September 2, with the Kempton victory of the Melba Bryce -owned Boquito at Kempton Park.

Breeze-up Bonus was started last year as 'self-help' initiative designed to encourage new and existing owners to buy horses followed by the Racing Post Yearling bonus scheme. Although the two schemes are separate entities, owners could benefit hugely from both of them with the same horse. If a 2010 breeze-up eligible graduate had also been ' sold last year when nominated to the Racing Post Yearling Bonus, its owner could land a further £10,000 provided that the
horse wins a race linked to that scheme.

Richard Griffiths , Racing Post Bloodstock Editor:

We are delighted to sponsor the Racing Post Breeze-Up Bonus, which is proving to be a wonderful example of what can be achieved in terms of promoting the sport in a unified manner. In this respect, the bloodstock world is leading the way. The scheme, together with the Racing Post Yearling Bonus, will prove a significant incentive for new and existing owners to buy at the sales.

Michael Harris, chief executive of the Racehorse Owners' Association:

The organisers of both the Racing Post Breeze-up Bonus Scheme and the Racing Post Yearling Bonus deserve great credit for what are two commendable self-help initiatives. Owners really are the lifeblood of the sport and the potential of a combined £20,000 payout from both schemes will be a huge incentive. I also very much like the idea of extending the number of horses who can now win win a breeze-up bonus. '

Oliver Gaisford-St. Lawrence, bloodstock agent:

The Breeze-Up Bonus is great and simple, it gives money to the primary investors in racing - owners.  Many of the 2yos also have a Yearling Bonus, this really is doubly encouraging owners to get involved.  I shall be at all the sales and expect to be busy.'

Trainer Kevin Ryan:

'I think [the breeze-up scheme] has proved very beneficial and it's well thought out. Anything that encourages owners is a good thing. Spreading the fund over more races and over a wider variety-of trips gives more horses a chance to win. It should definitely encourage owners get involved.'

Matt Coleman of Anthony Stroud Bloodstock:

'We are strong supporters of breeze-up sales, having selected the likes of Fleeting Spirit and Sir Gerry in recent years. The second, year of this breeze-up bonus will continue to assist trainers and their agents in encouraging their clients to buy. Combined with the yearling bonus from last year, the possibility of winning £20,000 with a breeze-up purchase in 2010. certainly provides a significant incentive for owners.'