The latest monthly data pack shows similar field size figures up to the end of August to that of the same period in 2014. However, it is encouraging that failure rates (races run with fewer than six runners) have decreased from 15.3% in 2014 to 13.9% so far this year. Positive results are also reflected in the number of races with eight or more runners increasing from 57.6% to 58.9%.

Plus 10 and two-year-old field sizes

Plus 10 is an industry funded bonus scheme for British and Irish owners and breeders which pays £10,000 (€12,500) bonuses to qualified two-year-old and three-year-old winners of Plus 10 races. Plus 10 builds upon earlier bonus schemes, operating alongside the British Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme (BOBIS) in 2015, before expanding to include three-year-old races and replacing BOBIS entirely from 2016. For two-year-olds, all Class 2-4 Maiden, Novice and Conditions and Class 5 Fillies’ only Maiden races carry the £10,000 bonus. For three-year-olds all Class 2-4 Maiden and Conditions and Class 5 Fillies’ only Maiden races carry the bonus.

Average field size data shows that Plus 10 races to the end of August show a 2% increase in field sizes on the previous year (8.88 v 8.71), whereas field sizes in non-Plus 10 races have remained static. Up until the end of August there were 250 British races supported by Plus 10, and £1.7million had been won by qualified horses through bonuses.

Pleasingly we have also seen an increase in two-year-old field sizes overall on the Flat throughout the summer months.

Regular readers of the blog will be aware that in March and April, despite a strong increase in the number of two-year-olds in training (+5.4% or 160 extra horses), Racing had not yet seen the benefits in terms of field sizes out on the track. Two-year-old field sizes have fared much better since May to August, so that we are now up 1% overall on this time last year.

Jump Horses in Training

Over Jumps, there is a positive increase in the number of horses in training for August when compared to the same month in 2014 (+4.3% or 159 extra horses). This is an encouraging (albeit very early) sign as the core Jump season fast approaches, and suggests that more horses have been brought into training earlier for the start of the season.

Recently, an article in the Racing Post applauded the new two-day high value Chepstow Jumps Festival on 10 and 11 October. Two separate Saturday meetings have been combined to create this event and anecdotal feedback from trainers suggests many are keen to prepare their string slightly earlier than usual in order to target this fixture.

Download the Data Pack  

The latest monthly data pack covering the period from 1 January to 31 August can be downloaded here.

Picture courtesy of: www.tattersalls.com