Hunter certs should stay with Turf Club

Sir, - With reference to the article in The Irish Field on Saturday, January 24th, on the Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill, it is interesting to note the quote attributed to the Minister that there is “no intention to take away control and management of point-to-points from the National Hunt Committee”.

Can we now be assured that the registration of hunter certificates will remain with the Turf Club (Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee) and that there is no intention by the Minister to capture the registration fees for hunter certificates in exchange for the promised increase of grant?

The present system for dealing with hunter certificates has worked well under the excellent stewardship of the Turf Club and it should not be changed as any interference will jeopardise the voluntary effort which is the backbone of point-to-points. – Yours, etc.,

IMELDA O’DONNELL,

For and on behalf of the Hunting Association of Ireland.

PTPs and the HRI (Amendment) Bill

Sir, - This association and its 33 committees have real and first-hand knowledge of how dependent point-to-points are on volunteerism.

It ranges from the landowner, who allows his farmland to become a racecourse for the day, to the stewards, course preparation workers, car park attendants, and the myriad of other volunteers without whose goodwill point-to-pointing, as we know and enjoy it, would die with the consequent damage to rural communities and the attendant risks on such an event.

It is not ironical that the article in The Irish Field dated Saturday, January 24th, 2015 on the Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill should appear beside Mr Powell’s article on depression, which is an unfortunate fact of life but an illness which can be greatly reduced by the volunteerism fostered in point-to-point committees.

The Minister must appreciate that the existing arrangements between the race committees and the Turf Club works well and that this must not fall victim to red tape and bureaucracy.

Any difficulties between the Turf Club and HRI, as suggested from time to time in various publications, should not result in point-to-pointing and its contribution to the rural way of life being put in jeopardy. – Yours, etc.,

BARRY O’DRISCOLL,

Hon Secretary,

Cork & Waterford Point-to-point Association.

Armchair viewers are racegoers too

Sir, - In the course of a letter to you written by a gentleman from Co Tipperary, which covered a variety of issues, he alludes to a letter by a ‘stay at home’ punter in The Irish Field the previous week.

It seems to have put the gentleman out somewhat that I complemented At The Races on their fine production of the recent Thurles meeting, and not just the superb pictures, as the gentleman says.

The inference in his letter was that Main Street betting offices and ATR are bad for the racing industry. Now I, like the letter writer, am a keen racegoer but cannot always go racing as much as I would like to. If I want to have a punt, the betting shop is the only way for me to do so.

As regards to ATR, their production of Irish racing in the main is first class, and shows our product to the greater racing world out there. – Yours etc.,

DECLAN O’CONNELL,

Lakeside Park,

Newbridge,

Co. Kildare.

Well done Ward Union

Sir, - As a regular on the point-to-point scene I would like to pay special compliments to the Ward Union for the wonderful show they put on last Sunday.

The track, in my opinion, is probably the best in Ireland but, above all, the public was entertained with piping hot coffee/tea, sandwiches and cake, free of charge, which was very welcome on a chilly but otherwise beautiful day.

They also made available schooling races after the point-to-point for a considerable number of horses (probably in the region of 100). Everything on the day was run with precision and professionalism.

It was my second visit to ‘The Folly’ and I am looking forward to next year. – Yours, etc.,

MICHAEL HOGAN,

Thornvale,

Kilpedder,

Co Wicklow.

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