Italy has been suspended as a member of the European Breeders Fund (EBF) after protracted negotiations between the Italian EBF and the Italian racing authorities fell through.
A fundamental requirement of EBF membership is that at least 70% of two-year-old maiden races run in a season within an EBF country are confined to EBF eligible horses, something which the Italian racing authorities were unable to guarantee.
The suspension adds significantly to the problems already facing Italy’s racing and breeding industries. “This has been rumbling on for a while,” EBF chief executive Sam Sheppard said. “Italian racing has lost out quite badly through this and we’ll do everything we can to encourage them back in.”
The EBF, which entered its 25th season of operation this year, originally comprised Britain, Ireland and France. It welcomed Italy alongside Germany in 1986. They were later joined in 1989 by Switzerland. Until now, no country has ever been excluded or suspended from the organisation. Italy’s position will be reviewed by the EBF at its December 2010 meeting where exclusion is among the possibilities it could face.