Jockey Club increases money to record levels

JCR, the UK’s largest racecourse group plans to commit an extra £2.2m raising its direct investment to £15.4m – a record in British racing.

The move sees JCR plan to distribute total prize money of £33.3m across its 14 racecourses, pending the outcome of the 50th Levy Scheme Determination. With 366 scheduled fixtures in 2011, this equates to £91,000 per fixture.

Paul Dixon, chairman of the Horsemen’s Group, said: “The Horsemen’s Group is pleased at the way the Jockey Club has stepped up to the plate to prioritise prize money at this critical juncture for those who work in the Racing industry.

“JCR runs 25 per cent of the fixtures in the UK, but is now funding almost 50 per cent of all contribution to prize money made by racecourses.

“That reinforces its unique position in British racing and is further proof that it is a constructive and supportive partner to the Horsemen.

“I strongly believe that Horsemen – owners, trainers, jockeys, breeders and stable staff – will recognise this decision as a very significant effort to help meet the needs of our industry and support Jockey Club Racecourses accordingly.

“We now look to other racecourses and racecourse groups to follow the lead of the Jockey Club in increasing prize money, which inevitably will enable them to meet the tariff more frequently.”

Simon Bazalgette, group chief executive of the Jockey Club and chairman of Jockey Club racecourses, confirmed their intentions.

He said: “The Jockey Club reinvests our profits back into British racing as part of our deep, ongoing commitment to the sport.

“Despite the challenges we all faced in 2010, we were able to contribute a record amount to prize money.

“Now, we intend to raise our own contribution to £15.4m, which will require us to achieve the revenue targets we have set for our business in 2011 from ticket sales, sponsorship, media rights and hospitality.

“As part of this planning process we have consulted with the Horsemen’s Group. That would take our total prize money to around £3m more than the total the Horsemen’s Tariff asks for when modelled across our group.

“This extra money will mean that we meet the tariff in a significantly higher number of races, but the only way we would be able to meet the tariff for every race would be to redistribute our entire prize money programme and significantly reduce the value of some of the world’s most iconic races.

“Aside from reducing the competitiveness and reputation of those fixtures, such a move would result in a major reduction in the prize money JCR can invest, particularly as a result of prize-money-linked sponsorship deals.”

Malton-born Andrew Tinkler and Sir Alex Ferguson were the combination to follow at Ludlow. After the football manager’s If I Had Him was second, the pair prevailed when Sinbad The Sailor obliged at 14-1.

Clive Brittain is eyeing up his first victory in the William Hill Lincoln with Nideeb who heads the 118 entries. The veteran Newmarket handler feels the four-year-old possesses the class to win the historic handicap at Doncaster on April 2.

Ferdy Murphy will be the guest when Racing Welfare hold a Cheltenham charity preview night on March 4 at Richmond Cricket Club. Contact Anne Jaques-Morgan on 07895 030353 for further details. Tickets cost £10.