Over £3.3m in prize money will be available across 88 High Value Developmental Races for the 2025 Flat season in a further boost for the British racing and breeding industry.
The programme of races, designed primarily for two- and three-year-old horses at the beginning of their careers, offer enhanced prize money with the aim of supporting the domestic breeding industry and encouraging the purchase and racing of young talent in Britain.
The programme continues to thrive thanks to the support of British Stallion Studs (EBF), Juddmonte, Darley and Tattersalls, who combine with the BHA Development Fund to provide financial support for the initiative.
The programme can be viewed here and begins with a £40,000 three-year-old contest at Southwell on March 15. It runs through the entirety of the Turf season before concluding at Chelmsford on December 1. The full programme consists of:
- 31 Open Novice/Maiden races for two-year-olds, worth a minimum of £40,000
- 30 Restricted Novice/Maiden races for two-year-olds, worth a minimum of £30,000
- 27 Open Novice/Maiden races for three-year-olds plus, worth a minimum of £40,000
This essential part of the race programme has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, with the 84 races staged last year building on 63 races staged in 2023.
Among the success stories from last year’s developmental races was the Brian Meehan-trained Rashabar, who won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot following a runners-up finish in a £40,000 maiden at Chester.
Richard Wayman, Director of Racing at the BHA, said:
“We are really pleased to confirm the continuation of the High Value Developmental programme for 2025 after another successful year. It is important for us to take steps to encourage the racing and breeding of horses in Britain, and the increased returns in prize money that these races provide is a vital part of that process.
“It has been brilliant to see the races so well engaged with by owners and trainers, and that wouldn’t be possible without the support of British Stallion Studs (EBF), Darley, Juddmonte and Tattersalls, who have worked together with the BHA to enable this initiative to thrive. We are also grateful to the Horseracing Betting Levy Board and our host racecourses for supporting the running of the races.
“In producing this year’s list of races, we have increased the focus on the staying horse as part of our ongoing strategy to attract and encourage quality horses with an aptitude for stamina.
“We very much hope to grow this significant initiative in the future, and I know that I speak on behalf of all of our partners when saying that we would warmly welcome other organisations to join us so that we can support more of these races in the years ahead.”
Simon Sweeting, Chairman at British Stallion Studs (EBF), said:
“The British EBF will again lead the industry sponsorship of this £3.3 million project in 2025 which focuses prize money into a vital, foundation area of the programme. Our 2024 races produced fantastic graduates, the standout being the Manton Thoroughbreds’ Rashabar. Second in our high value Maiden at Chester’s May meeting, he went on to win a stunningly close Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished second in both the Group 1 Prix Morny and Jean-Luc Lagadere.
“The races supported by the British EBF produced a further 10 stakes winners or performers including Listed winners Englemere, Lady With The Lamp and Glamis Road. With Open Maiden and Novices worth a minimum of £40,000 and Restricted races a minimum of £30,000, we hope more owners and trainers will target the great prize money on offer in these development opportunities for their horses’ careers.”
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions at Darley, said:
“Now in its third year, the Darley Maiden Series continues to be the subject of a great deal of positivity, and we are delighted to continue this sponsorship.
“Supporting breeders, either through this development series or via our contribution to the EBF, remains of paramount importance to Darley and we look forward to the first of the Darley series races taking place on 11 April, at Newbury.”
Douglas Erskine Crum, CEO Juddmonte, said:
“Juddmonte is delighted to support financially again this year’s further enhancements.
“These high prize money developmental races directly support owners and breeders in areas that can be overlooked and thereby support our UK breeding industry.”
Jason Singh, Associate Director of Marketing at Tattersalls, said:
“Tattersalls is pleased to continue supporting high value maiden and novice races in partnership with the BHA, EBF, Darley, and Juddmonte.
“Alongside our highly successful £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme, which has paid out over £9 million directly to owners since 2016, this initiative ensures that 88 maiden and novice races offer substantial prize money, strengthening this key area of the racing programme.”
Notes to editors:
1. A full list of the 2025 High Value Developmental Races can be viewed here.
2. The two-year-old Open Novice/Maiden races can be viewed here.
3. The two-year-old Restricted Novice/Maiden races can be viewed here.
4. The three-year-old Open Novice/Maiden races can be viewed here.
5. The sponsorship of the races is broken down as follows:
- 21 two-year-old Open Maiden and Novice races supported by British Stallion Studs (EBF) and the BHA Development Fund
- Ten two-year-old Restricted Maiden and Novice races supported by the British Stallion Studs (EBF)
- Seven three-year-old plus Open Maiden and Novice races supported by British Stallion Studs (EBF) and the BHA Development Fund
- 20 three-year-old plus Open Maiden and Novice races supported by Darley and the BHA Development Fund
- 20 two-year-old Restricted Maiden and Novice races supported by Juddmonte
- Ten two-year-old Open Maiden and Novice races supported by Tattersalls
