Prize Money Increases Set to Take Place in France

France Galop has approved a raft of new measures aimed at reversing the decline in the number of 2-year-olds in training, with the hope that its increased advantage over other European countries in prize money can help attract more foreign owners and trainers. 

Among the most eye-catching proposals are an increase to the already generous owners' premiums paid on top of basic prize-money for French-bred or assimilated 2-year-olds, and the waiving of early-season training center fees. Two new categories of maidens are being introduced to encourage the country's juveniles to be campaigned more ambitiously. 

France Galop director general Olivier Delloye said: "We hope that foreign owners who are already active in France might look at increasing their interest in the years to come.

"This year we have around 100 fewer 2-year-olds in training compared to last year and obviously if that trend were to continue—a loss of 4% to 5% annually—then in five or six years we could find ourselves with a reduction of 10% across the whole racehorse population. 

"In France, as elsewhere, we need horses to generate betting revenue—a little more so when you have a pari-mutuel model—so managing the numbers of horses in training is extremely important."

French racing suffered a major hit to its finances during the seven weeks when the sport was suspended due to the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. 

But with betting on racing bouncing back to above pre-lockdown levels since mid-summer, France Galop has decided it is time to press their financial advantage over Britain and Ireland. 

"Taking the extra money for 3-year-olds in 2022 together with all the other measures, we are looking at around an extra €5 million in terms of prize money," said Delloye. "To put things in perspective, we are able to head into 2021 looking at the same prize money levels as in 2019 (€250 million), which is already quite a feat in the current environment." 

The first concrete measure announced last week was the construction of new wood chip gallop in Chantilly, with the governing body recognizing that French 2-year-olds have lacked competitiveness in the face of foreign challengers in recent years. 

In other improvements, increased owners premiums for French-bred winners of 2-year-old races go from 60% to 70% in 2021, with the same for 3-year-olds in 2022; there are 25 2-year-old claimers that have been replaced with maidens reserved for horses that have already run twice; a new program of 2-year-old races will be reserved for the produce of French-based stallions covered for a fee of less than €10,000; and training center fees will be waived for 2-year-olds until the end of March. 



"We recognize that if you look back over the last 15 years at group races for 2- and 3-year-olds in France, there is a steady rise in the number of winners trained abroad," said Delloye. "Boosting the number of horses in training is a prerequisite to improve matters, but there are two factors at work and it is not just a case of quantity but also quality.

"The standard of horses in training is linked to the profile of your ownership base and the funds they have to invest in stock."

Delloye described results at last week's Tattersalls Book 2 yearling sale as "mind-boggling" evidence that the difficulties which face owners in terms of prize-money do not automatically make Britain a less attractive place to race. 

Delloye said: "Things in Britain are not maybe as catastrophic as is being portrayed but we have our strengths in terms of prize money and premiums, as well I hope as the quality of our facilities and of our horsemen. We are looking to add value to those existing strengths."