McCourt has promised $300mn over the next three years, including $100mn in prize money in year one, for those who join his Premier Jumping League project, which [will] make its debut early next year.
“The athletes at the highest level internationally aren’t competing in the sport because of the size of a cheque they wrote. It’s because they’re really good at it. What’s missing in the sport is coherence and narrative,” he said.
McCourt’s solution is a new competition in which 16 teams will battle it out in 14 events across the globe. The prize pot dwarfs what is currently on offer at other showjumping events, many of which exist largely as shop windows for promising steeds and rely heavily on rich enthusiasts willing to pay entry fees to compete against the pros. He believes bumper paydays will attract only the very best athletes and make it a viable career.
Read the full piece on Financial Times’ website.
