Horse Racing Ireland announce €4.3m prize money boost for 2026

January 23, 2026

Horse Racing Ireland has announced a €4.3 million boost in prize money for 2026.

HRI, alongside stakeholders of Irish racing, have pledged a significant increase to purses for racing as part of a three-year plan to drive investment in Irish bloodstock and restore competitiveness.

The record prize money of €74.7 million in total is a 6% increase from last year and HRI are adamant purse funds in Ireland are unacceptable in comparison to Britain and other countries.

It believes the lack of growth in that department is a crucial factor in increasing cost pressures across the industry.

A board meeting from July 2025 also saw HRI approve the adjustment of targeted prize money levels in the current strategic plan, increasing from €80m in 2028 to €85m.

The increases feature an almost equal split between both codes, flat and National Hunt, alongside big investment in starter races and boosts to minimum values.

It aims to ensure that winners at all levels can benefit from the changes. There will be an increase in prize money for bumpers, maiden hurdles and beginners’ chases in the jumps.

National Hunt racing prize money increases

Grade 1 Open race minimums going to €120,000 from €80,000
Grade 2 Open race minimums going to €70,000 from €45,000
Grade 3 open race minimums going to €55,000 from €37,500
Grade 2 novice races minimums going to €60,000 from €37,500
Grade 2 novice hurdles going to €50,000 from €37,500
Grade 2 juvenile hurdles going to €50,000 from €37,500
Grade 2 bumpers going to €50,000 from €37,500
Grade 3 novice hurdles going to €42,000 from €30,000

Flat racing prize money increases

No group 1 will be run for less than €400,000 (from €300,000)
Group 2s minimum value rises to €130,000 from €120,000
Groups 3 minimum value rises to €70,000 from €60,000
Listed race minimum value rises to €50,000 from €45,000
No Irish EBF 2yo maiden will be run for less than €22,000 (from €18,000)
Irish EBF Auction series and Median Sires Series carry a minimum value of €25,000
3yo maidens run prior to the Irish Derby will carry a minimum value of €20,000 for Irish EBF races and €17,000 for non-Irish EBF races (both from €12,000)

€2m increase in HRI contribution for first year of strategy in 2026

The first year of the new strategy, 2026, will be financed by a €2 million increase in HRI’s contribution, a 10% lift in entry fees across most categories, an increase in contributions from racecourses and a record Irish EBF total sponsorship of €3.2 million.

Less races will be run for the minimum value of €10,000 in 2026 (0-60 level on the flat, 0-100 level in National Hunt) but entries at this level will not be subject to an increase in fees.

The owners’ contribution was 23.9% of total prize money in Ireland in 2025 and that figure will rise to 24.9% in 2026 before dropping back to a projected 23.7% in 2028.

The new prize money values will come into effect from March 1st and all contributing stakeholders – HRI, owners, racecourses, commercial sponsorship and Irish EBF – will maintain the recent trajectory of their percentage contribution to Irish prize money.