Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) are delighted to announce that GAIN Equine Nutrition will continue their support of GAIN The Advantage Series for a third consecutive year. The initiative has been positively received by stakeholders as it addressed an industry need, in addition to recognising the importance of the role of the owner, trainer, breeder and stablestaff. Last year’s Trainer League for the GAIN The Advantage Series was jointly won by trainers Pat Martin & Kevin Coleman who shared an overall league prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN equine products.
After two successful years, the series will adhere to a similar format. However, this year there has been an enhancement to the series with an added race at Tramore Racecourse. The race will be restricted to horses owned by a syndicate or racing club to support and encourage the growth in this area. This race, like all the other legs of the series will benefit from a 50% increase in prize-money.
Each trainer will receive points for their successes over the course of the series through a grading process, which is designed to give equal opportunity to each trainer to win the overall prize. The number of points per win or placing at each leg will be based on the number of winners the trainer recorded throughout 2022.
The GAIN The Advantage Series intends to recognise all connections of the horse, including the hard-working and dedicated stable staff, with a draw for one lucky groom to win a luxury weekend away in Ireland. The breeder of the winning horse from each race will receive a framed photograph of the horse they bred and they will be entered into a draw to win one tonne of GAIN Equine Nutrition products.
The series will commence at Cork Racecourse on April 21 and then proceed to Navan, Ballinrobe, Tramore Tipperary, Killarney, Naas, Fairyhouse and the finale will be hosted at Leopardstown.
Philip Gilligan, Irish Country Manager, GAIN Equine Nutrition, commented: “We are delighted to be extending our GAIN The Advantage Series this year with a ninth leg taking place at Tramore Racecourse. It is a fantastic initiative that has grown in popularity over the past two years and gives us the opportunity to show our support to the thoroughbred racing and bloodstock industries, which are vital parts of our business. I think the series has grown in strength over the past two years because it acknowledges not only the owner with the increased prize-money, but also the trainer with the league table, the breeder and the hard-working stable staff. The team at GAIN Equine Nutrition are really looking forward to following the action throughout the series and following the trainer’s league to see who will be our 2023 winner. On behalf of the team, I would like to wish all connections the very best of luck this year.”
Vicki Donlon, Commercial Manager, HRI Racecourses, commented: “We are delighted and grateful that GAIN have continued and enhanced their support of the GAIN The Advantage Series. This series was created to meet a need from the industry, GAIN enabled this need to be met and the feedback has been very positive. The addition of a new race specifically aimed at syndicates and racing clubs is testament to GAIN listening and responding to our industry requirements. We look forward to another success GAIN The Advantage Series in 2023.”
Denis Hogan, Racehorse Trainer, said: “It’s a brilliant series, it’s a good incentive for us, for the owners, for the staff and for everyone involved really. Some of my owners picked out some of the races in the series last year because they were 50%+ prize-money. It’s a huge bonus with the boost in prize-money for a lower grade of race and it’s a brilliant series.The clubs and syndicates race is a great addition, and it’s a race we will definitely have more than one runner in that one.”
GAIN The Advantage Series 2023 – Race Schedule
| Racetrack | Date | Race Conditions |
| Cork Racecourse | April 21 | 10f, 3yo only |
| Navan Racecourse | June 11 | 5f, 3yo+ |
| Ballinrobe Racecourse | June 26 | 13f, 4yo+ |
| Tramore Racecourse | July 11 | 9f, 3yo+, 75-100, horses owned only by syndicate or racing club |
| Tipperary Racecourse | August 11 | 12f, 4yo+, Ladies Only |
| Killarney Racecourse | August 24 | 8.5f, 3yo+ |
| Naas Racecourse | September 14 | 8f, 2yo Only, Nursery |
| Fairyhouse Racecourse | September 18 | 6f, 3yo+ |
| Leopardstown Racecourse | October 22 | 7f, 3yo+ |