Horse Sponsorship Scheme

Pointers can be sponsored under new scheme

A new scheme introduced by the Point-To-Point Authority (PPA) allows for horses to be commercially sponsored for the first time. Owners can receive £450 per horse in exchange for a sponsoring company’s name appearing in the racecard and (optionally) its logo being displayed on the horse’s paddock sheet.
The scheme has been introduced to help owners offset their training and running costs, and a registration levy is being used to underwrite a national marketing plan for the sport.
Guidelines issued by the PPA draw a distinction between the new plan and the existing BHA Owners’ Sponsorship Scheme, so Hunter ‘Chases are excluded and there are no VAT considerations.
Heather Kemp, the PPA’s independent member who has developed the new scheme, believes the advent of commercial sponsorship will inject vital new funds into the sport. “Costs have been soaring and many owners have been hard pressed to keep going. While there have been concessions over syndication and partnerships, and individual events and race series have attracted sponsorship, the new scheme puts money right into the grass roots where it is most needed.”
Under the new rules (effective from November 1st and downloadable from www.pointtopoint.co.uk) any one business can sponsor up to five horses, although no horse can be sponsored more than once. No arrangement will be recognised unless registered with Weatherbys via Hunters’ Certificates. A registration fee of £45 applies, deductible from the £450. Logos must not be larger than 32sq.in (206 sq.cm) and company names are restricted to 45 characters.