'We are very lucky' - chief executive Paul Miller acknowledges Levy Board support vital for sport's wellbeing

The Levy Board was in the news this week following the release of its annual report, so it seems a timely moment to recognise the role the board plays in supporting British point-to-point.

In all, the Levy Board provides grant funding of more than £380,000 to the sport. Around £290,000 of this goes towards fixture-related costs, assisting in the maintenance of courses, and the costs of safety and welfare arrangements of every fixture. 

These grants provide vital financial support to those running the fixture and help to ensure an even spread of meetings across the calendar and country. This funding is crucial in maintaining a balanced fixture list, particularly across the winter period when costs can be high and racegoer numbers are lower.

Point-to-Point Authority chief executive Paul Miller explains: “We are very lucky that not only does the Levy Board understand the important role British pointing plays in racing, it also understands pointing itself.

“With 70 per cent of National Hunt jockeys, 35 per cent of licensed trainers and ten per cent of horses running under rules having started out in point-to-points, the Levy Board recognises pointing as the grassroots of British jump racing. It also understands what it takes to put on and run a fixture and the increasingly high standards that our sport operates within.

“As standards in pointing rise and bring us closer to those of licensed courses, particularly around horse and rider welfare, inevitably our costs rise. Levy Board funding is crucial in helping to offset many of them, funding initiatives around rider assessments, officials’ training, riding standards, plus medical and veterinary improvements to name just a few.”

Racing in general faces a number of challenges and pointing is no different. However, Miller adds: “As British pointing plays such a key role in racing under rules, our success is racing’s success. 

"As we look to grow pointing in terms of horse numbers, ownership experience and racegoer engagement, racing as a whole can only benefit as many will migrate to rules racing. 

Paul Miller: "Our success is racing's success"

"We’re already working on a number of initiatives within the sport and are seeing an increased level of engagement from stakeholders across the entire racing industry. We saw record crowds at a number of point-to-point fixtures last season and have already enjoyed bumper crowds this season.”

It is not just raceday costs the Levy Board supports; it also contributes towards the PPA’s marketing and website expenses.

Miller says: “The PPA is non-profit-making and has limited ways of raising funds. Growing the sport costs money, particularly website and marketing costs. The Levy Board has been very supportive in the past and we hope it continues as we implement a new marketing strategy, look to improve website functionality and user-experience, and begin producing original and engaging content to attract new people”.

Of course, British point-to-pointing’s share of the fund is relatively small, but it forms part of the Levy Board’s remit to sustain and improve British horseracing, breeding and veterinary science or education, for the benefit of the sport.

Two more to come

There are just two remaining fixtures before 2024 draws to a close, at Chaddesley Corbett in Worcestershire on Sunday, December 29 and Horseheath in Cambridgeshire on New Year’s Eve. You can read full previews of those meetings next week.

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