News
GBB BONUS PAYOUTS HIT £8 MILLION MARK ON A RECORD-BREAKING DAY
- The Great British Bonus (GBB) has paid out more than £8 million in bonuses since June 2020
- £90,000 worth of bonuses were paid out to six fillies and mares in one day
- The scheme is achieving its key aim of improving the demand for and value of British-bred fillies in the sales ring
Yesterday marked yet another impressive milestone for the Great British Bonus scheme. The Havana Grey filly, Mammas Girl, picked up a £20,000 GBB bonus yesterday (19th October 2022) after winning the Discover Newmarket Fillies Restricted Stakes at Newmarket. Trained by Richard Hannon, the filly's win for Amo Racing means that GBB has paid out more than £8 million in bonuses since its launch in June 2020.
In what would prove to be a busy day for the team, another five bonuses worth £70,000 would go on to be won including two fillies picking up their second bonuses; You Wear It Well, trained by Jamie Snowden, winning £20,000 in a Novice Hurdle at Worcester and 2yo Hill Cove, trained by Jonathan Portman, collecting her second £10,000 with a win in a Novice Stakes at Kempton.
Bonuses have been paid out in 586 races to 462 fillies and mares, with 98 winning more than once; the most notable, on the Flat, is Blackberry who won three bonuses totalling £60,000 soon after the schemes launch. More recently, 15,000gn Tattersalls Book 3 purchase Star of Lady M has won three bonuses worth £50,000. Over the Jumps, a number of mares have racked up £60-£80,000 in bonus wins, with the Dan Skelton-trained Gentle Connections looking set to become the schemes first £100,000 winner.
The TBAs Deputy Chairman, Philip Newton, says: GBB was eight years in the planning, and we launched it just as racing restarted after the first Covid-19 lockdown in June 2020. To say that in a little over two years later, we have paid out £8 million in bonuses is amazing. Some 65% - more than £5million has been paid to owners and 20% £1.6million is back in the pockets of the breeders. The industry has truly embraced the scheme and its been a game changer.
Operations Executive Charlie Newton says: Weve just had our deadline for foal registrations and, once again, weve seen a marked increase in the numbers nominated to the scheme. Wed expected to see an increase in the foal crop, but even with that taken into consideration, were seeing more and more breeders investing in GBB.
One of GBBs aims is to increase the interest in and value of British-bred fillies at the sales, and with more than 500 GBB yearlings passing through the sales rings recently, it seems to be doing just that.
The yearling sales are always a busy time of year, and we were thrilled to see huge demand for GBB fillies. In Book 3, for example, fillies registered with GBB were selling for an average of £10,000 more than those not registered, says Charlie Newton.
One consignor at those sales was breeder David Hodge, of Llety Farms, who says: GBB has been a fantastic initiative. It was just what the industry needed for these fillies. Ive bred a couple of bonus winners now, which has been great, but it really has raised the profile of British-bred fillies at the sales. Buyers come looking just for GBB fillies and theyre willing to pay a bit more for them too..