To recognise and acknowledge the high standards of care and
attention racehorses receive, particularly from stable staff, Horse Racing
Ireland (HRI) launched the ‘Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council best-turned out
league’ in January 2021.
Participating racecourses record their best-turned-out
winners which HRI then aggregate and create the best-turned out league table. A
yard can win a prize in both Flat and National Hunt categories. The specific
category which a yard fits will be established at year end, when the number of
runners at participating tracks is calculated. If there is a tie, then
the prize will be divided. The prize goes to the team in the winning
yard.
John Osborne, Equine Welfare & Bloodstock Director at HRI, said: “The care of our horses is largely in the hands of our stable staff whose work is greatly appreciated. The presentation of the horses is really a reflection of all the days spent preparing the horses at home. The best turned out league will particularly highlight the yards which consistently do well even if they are at a numerical disadvantage. The work required is the same, whether the yard is small or large.”
The categories are as follows;
| Racing yard criteria / categories | Flat | NH |
|
A. Top 10 yards by number of runners
|
€3,000
|
€3,000
|
|
B. 11th – 25th yards by number of
runners
|
€3,000
|
€3,000
|
|
C. All other yards
|
€3,000
|
€3,000
|