WITHIN the sales ring, the mind-blowing sums being traded on young point-to-pointers, not only continued, but if anything intensified, growing to never previously seen levels.

During the 2017/18 season, a staggering £22 million was spent in the sales rings on these young horses, who continue be so richly sought after. Putting into context both that figure, and the incredible pace of the growth, is even more remarkable.

That figure of £22 million has doubled within the space of three years from the £11 million sum traded on Irish point-to-pointers during the 2014/15 season.

In each subsequent year since, the growth has been notable. The season-ending total from the public sales ring grew by £2.5 million in 2015/16, an additional £4.5 million in 2016/17, whilst this season’s figure represents an additional climb of a further £3.8 million.

Such has been the strength within the market, the average price of the more than 300 Irish point-to-point horses offered at the various public auctions this season grew to a notable figure in excess of £67,000.

That was aided by no fewer than 75 horses realising six-figure sums in the sales ring, 25 of whom broke the £200,000 barrier.

Encouragingly, the demand for point-to-point mares’ has continued to rise hand-in-hand with that overall growth. In total, two four-year-old mares’, Lust For Glory and Little Light, feature among those 25 £200,000-plus sellers, whilst nine pointing mares’ in total realised six-figure prices.

GRANT

As part of the 2018 Horse Racing Ireland budget, no increases to the point-to-point grant were announced, with it remaining at €6,500 per fixture.

A welcome additional €161,000 was added to the prize money allocation of all races other than four and five-year-old maidens.

However, given the return on investment that the government receives for that funding, with point-to-point racing proving to be a net contributor to the Irish economy, thanks to the £22million or €25million that is generated from public sales alone for the rural economy here, there is legitimate claims to a further funding increase to aid those areas of point-to-point racing where the numbers are not as strong.

2017/2018 POINT-TO-POINT AWARD WINNERS

The Irish Field National Champion: Barry O’Neill

Racing Post Senior Champion: Derek O’Connor

P2P.ie Ladies Champion: Liz Lalor

Racing Post Champion Novice: Sean O’Keeffe and Shane Fitzgerald

Horse Racing Ireland Eastern Champion: Barry O’Neill

Horse Racing Ireland Northern Champion: Barry O’Neill

Horse Racing Ireland Southern Champion: Derek O’Connor

Horse Racing Ireland Western Champion: Derek O’Connor

EasyFix Champion Handler: Colin Bowe

Weatherbys Ireland Leading Breeder: Noel Doyle

Connollys RedMills Champion Point-to-Pointer: Sydney Paget

ITBA Champion Mare: Wilcosdiana

Tattersalls Ireland Champion Hunter Chaser: Gilgamboa

Goffs Leading Sire: Flemensfirth

Anglesey Lodge Personality Award: To be announced tonight