HRI introduce NH Academy Hurdle Race Series
Friday, December 06, 2024
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has today announced the introduction of three-year-old NH Academy Hurdle races designed to enhance the development of jumps horses in Ireland.
The races will begin in October 2025 and will be open to three-year-old horses who have not had any previous run on the Flat or under National Hunt rules other than in Academy Hurdle races.
The NH Academy Hurdle races will have a focus on jumping, with racecourses and distances selected to maximise the optimum number of obstacles in each race.
This series of races, run for standard prize money, are viewed as the initial starting point for Irish National Hunt horses on the track, and so winners of these races will be qualified to run in bumpers and maiden hurdles in Ireland, the objective being to encourage young NH horses to enter training earlier but yet have access to a programme that does not require them to be rushed should they win a NH Academy Hurdle race.
Britain already has a similar Junior Hurdle programme in place since 2022, whereby winners retain their Novice status for an additional season. The BHA has agreed that winners of these NH Academy Hurdle races in Ireland will be afforded the same level of protection in GB, and Ireland will respect 3yo Junior Hurdle winners with the same status as a NH Academy Hurdle winner when racing in Ireland. This means that winners of the NH Academy Hurdle races will be qualified to run in all British Novice Hurdles of which there are c. 360 scheduled each year.
Other elements of the series to note is that each NH Academy Hurdle run will be considered by the IHRB Handicapper in assessing a horse for a handicap rating; a number of these races will carry IRE style vouchers for eligible winning and placed horses; and non-winners will remain eligible to be registered for a Hunter Certificate to run in point-to-points.
These races are being introduced following significant industry discussion and debate around the quality of NH horses being bred and produced in Ireland, and their performance both on the racecourse and at key National Hunt sales.
John Osborne, Director of Bloodstock at Horse Racing Ireland, said:
“In recent years the advantages of starting young thoroughbred horses at an early stage have been identified in various studies and the data now available further supports this.
“Exposing horses to measured exercise at an early stage can have a positive impact on their performances and longevity in racing.
“There are many people in the Irish breeding world who recognised early the potential of this series and committed to working towards it, and Horse Racing Ireland will stay agile in ensuring that we do everything we can to make this a success in 2025 and beyond.”
The races will begin in October 2025 and will be open to three-year-old horses who have not had any previous run on the Flat or under National Hunt rules other than in Academy Hurdle races.
The NH Academy Hurdle races will have a focus on jumping, with racecourses and distances selected to maximise the optimum number of obstacles in each race.
This series of races, run for standard prize money, are viewed as the initial starting point for Irish National Hunt horses on the track, and so winners of these races will be qualified to run in bumpers and maiden hurdles in Ireland, the objective being to encourage young NH horses to enter training earlier but yet have access to a programme that does not require them to be rushed should they win a NH Academy Hurdle race.
Britain already has a similar Junior Hurdle programme in place since 2022, whereby winners retain their Novice status for an additional season. The BHA has agreed that winners of these NH Academy Hurdle races in Ireland will be afforded the same level of protection in GB, and Ireland will respect 3yo Junior Hurdle winners with the same status as a NH Academy Hurdle winner when racing in Ireland. This means that winners of the NH Academy Hurdle races will be qualified to run in all British Novice Hurdles of which there are c. 360 scheduled each year.
Other elements of the series to note is that each NH Academy Hurdle run will be considered by the IHRB Handicapper in assessing a horse for a handicap rating; a number of these races will carry IRE style vouchers for eligible winning and placed horses; and non-winners will remain eligible to be registered for a Hunter Certificate to run in point-to-points.
These races are being introduced following significant industry discussion and debate around the quality of NH horses being bred and produced in Ireland, and their performance both on the racecourse and at key National Hunt sales.
John Osborne, Director of Bloodstock at Horse Racing Ireland, said:
“In recent years the advantages of starting young thoroughbred horses at an early stage have been identified in various studies and the data now available further supports this.
“Exposing horses to measured exercise at an early stage can have a positive impact on their performances and longevity in racing.
“There are many people in the Irish breeding world who recognised early the potential of this series and committed to working towards it, and Horse Racing Ireland will stay agile in ensuring that we do everything we can to make this a success in 2025 and beyond.”
CLICK HERE FOR FAQ SHEET ON THE NH ACADEMY HURDLE RACE SERIES
Exposing horses to measured exercise at an early stage can have a positive impact on their performances and longevity in racing.
.png?ext=.png)
