Irish Thoroughbred Marketing supports owners at Barbury International
Owners at the Barbury International Point-to-Point- on Saturday, January 20 at Barbury Racecourse - are to be well looked following a new initiative by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), the promotional body for Irish racing and bloodstock.
ITM will be hosting a reception at Barbury for owners of horses entered in each of the seven races.
“The lot of an owner in Point-to-Point racing is in stark contrast to under Rules,” remarked Peter McNeile for Barbury Races. “You can normally find an owner washing down his own horse after the race. We all know we do it for the love of the sport, but occasionally, a bit of TLC doesn’t go amiss!"
"This initiative by ITM is very welcome and should assist keepers and owners to maintain their enthusiasm for the sport even in mid-winter.”
Eimar Chance, for ITM: ”We welcome the opportunity to talk to owners of racehorses at every level. It’s encouraging that there has been a move toward finding opportunities to bring on young horses through the Point-to-Point calendar in the UK."
"Poetic Rhythm, recent winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, was an excellent example of an Irish-bred horse sold on into the UK market who graduated from Pointing into the mainstream. So it’s with relish that we support the International as a showcase for the sport on both sides of the Irish Sea.”
The owner experience doesn't end here either. Winners in each race will receive a magnum of Alder Ridge sparkling wine - grown in the UK - from Cobbs Farm Shop, near Hungerford. This will be Cobbs' first venture into the sport.
"So" says Peter McNeile, "it's celebrations all round at Pointing's richest ever programme."