Elite NH Mares' Scheme
How does it work?
The Elite NH Mares’ Scheme rewards the owners of those mares proven on the racecourse or at stud, by providing subsidised, and in some cases free, nominations to eligible British based stallions.
The aim of the scheme is to underline to mare owners the quality of stallions available in this country, and to give a valuable incentive to TBA members who own such mares to cover them with the best from the ranks of young or proven stallions in Britain.
Full TBA members who own mares rated above 130, are eligible for a free or proportionately subsidised nomination to a British-based stallion which meets the criteria and has been registered for the scheme.
What grants are available?
Owners of Elite Mares will receive a grant entitling the mare to a discount on the advertised nomination fee to any of the eligible stallions in the scheme.
2026 Awards
- Category 1A – 150+ rated mare: £5,000 grant
- Category 1B – producer of 160+ rated gelding or 150+ rated mare: £5,000 grant
- Category 2A – 130-149 rated mare: £4,000 grant
- Category 2B – producer of 140-159 rated gelding or 130-149 rated mare: £4,000 grant
The grants are only valid for the 2026 breeding season and the grants are paid direct to the stallion owner on receipt of a valid 1 October pregnancy certificate to the TBA office.
Is my mare eligible for the scheme?
Eligible mares are divided into the following categories:
| Category 1a Mares that have achieved a peak Official Rating of 150 or more |
Category 2a Mares that have achieved a peak Official Rating of between 130 and 149 |
| Category 1b Mares who have produced a NH horse officially rated 150 (mare) or 160 (gelding). |
Category 2b |
Winners of black-type races over obstacles will be treated as having the following minimum rating, regardless of Official Rating:
- Grade 1 winners or winner of three Grade 2 WFA races: 150 Mares, 160 Geldings
- Winners of Grade 2 WFA races: 140 Mares, 150 Geldings
- Grade 3 or Listed WFA Winners: 135 Mares, 145 Geldings
- Winner of Graded/Listed/Premier Handicaps: 130 Mares, 140 Geldings
N.B. 2x Grade 3 or Listed wins are treated as equivalent to a Grade 2 win. When the above measures are applied, horses relying on winning races that are confined to three-year-olds or four-year-olds will be treated as having achieved ratings 5lbs below those stated above.
The peak Official Ratings used are identifiable from the BHA and HRI websites, or recorded on the Racing Post database.
A mare that qualifies for the Scheme by satisfying multiple criteria (either as a race mare and producer, or as producer of more than one qualifying horse) will be regarded as having achieved an Official Rating increased by 10lb for every additional qualification.
Any mare aged over 20 (born in or before 2005), must have produced a runner with an Official Rating of 130+ (mare) or 140+ (gelding) to be considered for the scheme. No mare aged over 22 (born in or before 2003) is eligible for the scheme.
Mares who have run in France, other than those who qualify through winning black-type races, shall be assessed for the scheme based on their French rating doubled, as is the way the BHA handicapper assesses.
If you have a mare you think should be on the list please contact the office.
What stallions are included in the scheme?
Downloads
Eligible stallions for 2026:
- Arrigo
- Bangkok
- Cannock Chase
- Capri
- Dartmouth
- Dink
- Eldar Eldarov
- Frontiersman
- Gentlewave*
- Geordieland
- Ito
- Jack Hobbs
- Kew Gardens
- Kingston Hill
- Logician
- Ocovango
- Passing Glance
- Pether’s Moon
- Planteur
- Postponed*
- Saddler’s Rock
- Schiaparelli
- Subjectivist
- Yorgunnabelucky
* Available to Cat 1