QUOTED in this paper last week, the Minister for Agriculture said that the point-to-point community need have no worries about the incoming Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill. However, in the same breath he indicated that the registration of hunter certificates would be “streamlined” which presumably means that task will be taken from the Turf Club and given to HRI.

Could somebody explain to me how this will save money or make things more efficient? Why fix something that was working fine? The hunts have had a long association with the Turf Club’s INHS Committee and the all-party Oireachtas Joint Committee appeared to acknowledge this when the Turf Club pleaded its case last autumn.

In their report to the Minister, the Joint Committee said: “Point-to-point racing is an amateur sport and is run predominately on a voluntary basis by local Hunts and Committees. Point to point racing is a very successful and well functioning side of horse racing in Ireland to date, representing what some during the Committee meetings referred to as the “vital grass roots” of the industry. It is important in terms of both breeding and developing racing capabilities. It is in this overall context that any legislative changes that would impact on this aspect of racing should be very carefully considered.”

I am disappointed that the Minister has not taken these views on board.