Protracted negotiations between the Italian EBF (FIA), backed by the European Breeders’ Funds in
Great Britain, Ireland, France and Germany, and the Italian racing authorities
have failed to provide a solution to a long-running problem about the
application of EBF regulations to the Italian racing program.
It is a fundamental requirement within the EBF countries that at least 70 percent of two-year-old maiden races must be confined to EBF eligible horses. The
Italian racing authorities have failed to give a guarantee that EBF rules and
regulations will be strictly applied.
The EBF Coordinating Committee, which sanctioned the suspension, recognized
that such action will add significantly to the problems already facing
Italy’s racing and breeding industries. UNIRE, roughly the equivalent of the
British Horseracing Authority and Levy Board, can easily restore the Italian EBF
to its rightful place by cooperating and ensuring that EBF regulations are
applied.
The immediate affect will be that FIA, and through that organization Italian
racing, will have very restricted funds available to support the few EBF races
which should be framed in 2010 and 2011. From the 2010 covering season,
stallions based in Italy can pay EBF contributions to the EBF Coordinating
Committee, and not to FIA, thereby ensuring that the progeny conceived in the
year the payment is made can compete in EBF races elsewhere in Europe when
reaching racing age.
The EBF Coordinating Committee will reconsider Italy’s position within the EBF at its December 2010 meeting.