Chairman's Letter
April 2006

With many parts of the country experiencing their coldest winter for 20 years, producing a spate of abandonment and postponements in the first quarter of the year, it is not surprising that, combined with the low rainfall (with the odd exception), we are witnessing a marginal decline (4.2%) in the numbers of horses with registered certificates and the numbers of runners in comparison to 2005. However, given the uncertainties that we all faced in the autumn of 2004, we should rejoice that the support witnessed in the hunting field has remained strong and the number of meetings scheduled for this year was only one below the figure for 2004. Our own two-day meeting at Barbury Castle in January was a great success, producing 203 runners from 344 entries with 63 different Hunts represented. This season has also seen 4 year olds running (and winning) for the first time and the Cotswold Vale's innovative Novice Rider programme the Sunday after the Grand National proved to be a great success with no field having less than eight runners and three favourites winning.

I am in no doubt that Point-to-Pointing is in good health and as participants we are indebted to the organisations that stage the meetings providing us with the opportunities to run our horses. But beyond our immediate radar, changes are afoot that will fundamentally change the way racing is administered, managed and financed. As I have emphasised since I took on the Chair of the Association in 2004, we are an integral part of the racing industry in which there is resolute recognition that our amateur sport has a significant role to play. Now, more than ever, Point-to-Point racing needs strong leadership to ensure that during a time of massive change in racing's hierarchical bodies we are neither marginalised or sidelined but retain our grass roots links with National Hunt Racing.

When I wrote in December I referred to the commercial mechanism which may (or may not) replace the Levy in 2009 and I talked about the Horseman's Group led by the Racecourse Owner's Association with backing from bodies representing the Trainers, Breeders and Stable staff. It is vital that we work alongside these organisations and demonstrate the benefit to the racing industry of our amateur sport and ensure that the vital income stream that we receive through the Levy Board grant is maintained to ensure the very high levels of welfare and safety that the sport has achieved over the years. This will need determined and dedicated people and we are fortunate that on the Point-to-Point Board we have people with the foresight to seize the opportunities ahead of us to ensure the future sustainability and success of Point-to-Point racing.

Following the Board's decision in the autumn to review its own Terms of Reference to ensure that the executive input and administrative back-up met the Board's objectives, a working party has been set up under the Chairmanship of Richard Russell. This is the first top to tail review of the sport since the Mildmay-White Report of 1986 and its remit is to review the development of the sport over the last 20 years, to identify and consider the future requirements of the sport and to submit recommendations to the Point-to-Point Board. This review will report by the end of December, and the importance of establishing a clear plan for our future cannot be over emphasised as the racing industry moves towards a completely new structure that will see the British Horseracing Board and the Horseracing Authority replaced by one body. We as an association will be invited to participate in the Review and would welcome your thoughts on any aspect of the sport.

With the Jockey Club having handed over it's regulatory responsibilities to the Horseracing Authority under the Chairmanship of John Bridgeman, with Dr Peter Webbon as the Authority's Chief Executive, never has it been more important for owners and riders to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport that we love and cherish.

Simon J Claisse
Chairman