The IRE Incentive will extend to Italy for the first time this year to reward Irish-bred winners of designated races in the country.The popular sales initiative, run by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), has been in operation since 2021 and has helped to stimulate Irish bloodstock and sales.Over 1,000 IRE Incentive races in Ireland and Great Britain have been run since with over €5 million in bonuses spent at Irish auctions. Figures from Weatherbys show that Italy is the third biggest market for Ireland in Europe after Britain and France in terms of quantity of horses sold.The number of horses sold to Italy through Irish sales has grown 92% in two years, going from 133 in 2023 to 256 in 2025.In the lead up to the 2026 Irish Breeze Up Sales – at Tattersalls Ireland on May 21 and 22 and at Goffs on June 27 – ITM will sponsor approximately ten races in Italy, each carrying an IRE Incentive bonus.Bonuses of €2,500 and €5,000 will be awarded if a designated race is won by an Irish Bred/IRE Qualified horse and similarly may be redeemed on Irish-bred/IRE Qualified horses at any Irish-based auction.The post IRE Incentive Scheme Bonuses To Extend To Italy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.