Big bucks for point-to-points

Point-to-point organisers will receive nearly £200,000 towards the cost of running events during 2001.

The Horserace Betting Levy Board has approved grants totalling £193,000, which is an increase of £5,000 on this year.

The money will be distributed across 120 courses, which stage over 200 individual point-to-point fixtures.

The grant is in recognition of the significant contribution that point-to-points make to National Hunt racing, particularly as a training aid for both horsesand riders.

The number of registered hunter certificates increased to a record 4,455 horses last season, while the number of individual point-to-point runners increased to 3,886, a rise of 17 per cent against 1999.

Carol Phillips

H&H website editor

Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.