Great British Bonus (GBB) payouts to breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff across the country have surpassed £20 million, from nearly 1,500 individual bonuses, after the George Scott-trained Pixie Diva earned a £10,000 bonus with her success at Lingfield last week.
The GBB scheme was launched in 2020, with majority funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), designed to create value and increase demand for British-bred fillies.
In 2022, the number of annual individual British-bred fillies running exceeded pre-Covid levels, while GBB-registered fillies sold for an average of £30,000 more than their non-registered counterparts in 2024.
Alan Delmonte, chief executive of the HBLB, added, “HBLB is proud to have provided the GBB scheme with funding since inception and has been impressed by the scheme's impact to date.
“This year, HBLB provided an extra £1.1 million to extend the scheme to give targeted support for middle-distance and staying Flat fillies and for steeplechasing mares.
“This demonstrates HBLB's commitment to support British Breeding and provide incentives for the racing of fillies and mares.”
Of the £20 million paid out so far, around £13 million (65%) has gone directly to owners, while breeders have also seen a direct benefit, receiving around £4 million (20%) to date.
To mark the fifth anniversary of GBB, along with the £20 million bonus milestone, GBB has gifted five apple trees – “a symbol of longevity, heritage and future growth” – to 20 breeders across Britain.
Philip Newton, chairman of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), added, “GBB is a success story. It's working, it's growing, and we should be shouting about it. GBB is proving there's every reason to Breed, Buy, Race in Britain – and be proud of it.”
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