In its third year, the ARC £1,000,000 All-Weather Bonus scheme has run from October 2024, throughout the winter, and culminated on Good Friday, 18th April 2025.
The bonus has consisted of both a Horse of The Month and Horse of The Year competition, along with a bonus for the top Jockey and Apprentice Jockey at ARC’s four All-Weather Racecourses.
Points for the Horse of the Month and Horse of the Year competitions have been awarded to horses that have finished in the first five on any of their first three runs in any monthly period at Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Southwell or Wolverhampton Racecourses.
The Horse of the Month competition offered a total of £35,000 a month in prizes in October/November, December and January. The prize pot doubled in February, and March & April to £70,000. There was also a prize pot of £10,000 per month paid to the staff connected to the stables of the horses in the top three places.
The Horse of the Year competition offered a £100,000 first prize, and was won by Tasever, trained by Patrick Morris. A total of £665,000 will be paid down to 20th place, with the horse in that position earning a £10,000 bonus.
Tasever has amassed 48 points in 16 starts throughout the All-Weather season. Four victories and five runner-up efforts have assisted the 5yo to lead the Horse of The Year standings by 1 point. He has improved 21lbs throughout the last six months with the switch to an All-Weather surface and a new start under Patrick Morris seemingly the key to his resurgence.
It has been another highly competitive All-Weather season which is reflected in the Horse of The Year standings with just one point between second, third and fourth-placed horses Paradoxical (47pts), Urban Road (47pts) and Come On John (47pts) from fifth-placed Swinging London (46pts).
Five horses to share first prize for Horse of The Month in March & April
Three-time winners First Greyed, Ana Emaraaty, Mr Baloo, Oriental Prince and Ash Wednesday will receive £14,000 each after the quintet finished tied in first place in the Horse of Month competition for March & April. The £10,000 stable staff bonus will also be split five ways with each yard receiving a £2,000 prize.
A summary of the ARC All-Weather Horse of The Year standings can be seen here.
The final standings in both the Horse of the Month and Horse of the Year competitions were decided on countback down to number of 5th placed finishes, wherever two or more horses were tied on points.
