Following the successful completion of the enhanced Autumn 2020 Season of Point to Points, the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the running of fixtures over the past few difficult months.
The INHSC take huge pride in the fact the whole community pulled together during such uncertain times to successfully stage 37 out of 38 scheduled fixtures, the only one lost being due to inclement weather. Opportunities were provided for 512 Handlers of 1,892 horses with Hunter Certs, of which there were 4,346 entries and 2,350 runners.
The Autumn season was only made possible due to significant contributions from a number of organisations, namely;
- Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) continued with the grant of €6,500 to every Hunt Committee and provided all the prizemoney to each of the 37 fixtures;
- Qualified Riders Association contributed almost €20,000 to Hunt Committees this Autumn
- Tattersalls Ireland sponsored a race at every Point to Point held, contributing almost €20,000 in total
- p2p.ie along with the INHSC provided race cards free of charge to Hunt Committees for every fixture
- INHSC contributed over €48,000 to ensure Point to Points could be held successfully.
These contributions were paramount in giving Hunt Committees the confidence to run Point to Points in line with all Covid-19 protocols and ensure a successful event took place for the benefit of Handlers, Owners, Riders and all involved in the industry.
With Hunt Committees facing the prospect of running fixtures behind closed doors for most if not all of the Spring 2021 season, the INHSC have been working hard to secure extra funding and provide clarity to Hunt Committees for the Spring season. The INHSC made representations to HRI during the budgetary process and are delighted that the board of HRI agreed to their request that Hunt Committees receive an extra €1,000 grant, so that every Hunt Committee that stages a Point to Point will now receive €7,500. Furthermore, as long as fixtures are held behind closed doors in Spring, the INHSC will contribute €500 per fixture to every Hunt Committee and, as in the Autumn, in conjunction with p2p.ie will provide race cards free of charge to all Hunt Committees.
This additional financial assistance amounts to €1,500 for every fixture held, along with the elimination of various other expenses normally incurred by Hunt Committees pre-Covid, such as the €200 additional Prize Money for feature race, the cost of production of race cards, the cost of marquee hire, to name just a few.
The Spring 2021 season is scheduled to begin with the United Hunt (F) Lisgoold fixture at Ballindenisk on Sunday, 3rd January 2021.
Martin O’Donnell, Senior Steward of the INHSC stated: “The Stewards of the INHSC welcome the Board of Horse Race Ireland’s decision to agree to our request for extra Grant aid of €1,000 for Hunt Committees. Following substantial contributions of over €48,000 by the INHSC to ensure a successful season this Autumn, we are pleased to announce that we will continue to contribute directly to Hunt Committees in Spring 2021 to the tune of €500 per fixture, as well as providing the race cards for every fixture in conjunction with p2p.ie.
“We believe that Hunts can plan with financial certainty to run their fixture to the high standards we have come to expect and have become accustomed to up and down the country. I want to reassure everyone that the INHSC are committed to running the Spring 2021 Point to Point season successfully and in compliance with all Government guidelines as applicable throughout the year. We will continue to be on hand to advise and assist Hunt Committees wherever necessary during the course of the forthcoming Spring Season.
“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone involved in Point to Pointing in Ireland a Happy Christmas and New Year and hope everyone stays safe and well.”