JONATHAN WARD

PRIZE MONEY

"Owners can expect to cover 55% of their training costs through prize money as opposed to 23% in the UK and 28% in Ireland"
(2008 IFHA figures).

OWNERS PREMIUMS

The owners of horses that are born and bred in France (né et élevé en France or "assimilé") are eligible to receive premiums in addition to prize money. These premiums are only available in flat races not restricted to French breds.

Premiums:                75% of prize money for 2 year olds

                                    63% of prize money for 3 year olds

                                    48% of prize money for 4 year olds and up

BREEDER'S PREMIUMS

Breeders of horses that are born and bred in France (né et élevé en France) are also eligible to receive premiums. In flat races restricted to French bred horses breeders receive 19% of the prize money and in flat races open to all horses they receive 14%.

TRANSPORT

When a horse travels to the races France Galop will partially reimburse transport costs. In 2008 the average travelling allowance paid per starter was 117€. 
Reimbursements:
PMH race meeting (provincial race meetings) at 0.1275€/km. 
PMU race meetings at 0.255€/km.

RACE ENTRY COSTS

Race entry is free in France (with the exception of flat PMU handicaps and races with a total value of more than 40,000€). The owner is charged a small percentage of the total race value if the horse is taken out at the forfait stage or not declared to run. If the horse runs or is eliminated there are no fees to pay. 

JOCKEY'S FEES

In France flat jockeys receive 8.5% of the prize money and owner's premiums if they finish in the first five. If they are not in the first five they are paid 13.57€ for a losing ride (apprentices 7.09€) . The owner also contributes towards the jockey's travel costs, however, this cost is divided equally between the owners of the horses the jockey is riding at the meeting.

ELIMINATION SYSTEM

The basic principle of the elimination system in France is that once a horse has been eliminated from a race it is then given 'priority' to run in its next race. It is slightly more complex than this depending on what type of race the horse was eliminated from (PMU/PMH/conditions race/handicap). This is very helpful to horses at the bottom of handicaps who would otherwise struggle to get a run.

OWNERSHIP REGISTRATION