62 PPORA-Supported Races Confirmed for 2025-2026

The PPORA has confirmed its continued support for point-to-pointing for the coming season by announcing that it will be providing a financial contribution to 62 races at 33 courses across 48 fixtures.

For 2025/2026, the PPORA has doubled its financial support to £200 per race. In addition to the £100 that each meeting already receives in recognition of their staging a race specifically for PPORA members, this year they are providing a further £100 and encouraging fixtures to award this additional sum to connections in the form of prize money.

The first PPORA-supported contest takes place at the Puckeridge & Essex meeting at Horseheath on Saturday 29^th November – a Level 3 Conditions Race for eight-year-olds and over, to be partnered by Novice Riders. This is followed by two a week later at the West Mercian Area Races meeting at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday 7^th December.

Jane Allfrey, Fixture Secretary at all four meetings at the Worcestershire venue (pictured below, c. Marilyn Sweet), which hosts eight PPORA races in total, more than any other course, explained why she is grateful for the PPORA contribution:

“We’re always pleased to host their races because the PPORA does so much for point-to-pointing, not just for owners and riders but in its support of the grass roots of the sport – for example the free membership for first season riders.”

“The extra £100 per race they are providing this season is most welcome. Their funding has allowed us to increase prize money at Chaddesley Corbett, where we are also improving the facilities, including the paddock and the horse walk.”

Of the 62 races throughout the season, the PPORA showpiece is the Novice Riders Championship Final, a Level 2 Conditions Race held at the Grafton fixture at Edgcote on Sunday 17^th May. This race is fully sponsored by the PPORA and offers £1,700 in total prize money, of which £1,000 goes to the winner.

Mark Whitney, Chairman of the Grafton point-to-point, which has staged this race since 2019, said of the PPORA’s backing of the event:

“We are utterly delighted, as a relatively new racecourse, to have a showcase event such as the Final, and see the fact that the PPORA continue to hold it at Edgcote as recognition of the work we do on the course and the ground. This year, we’ve brought the prize fund close to the level of a Hunter Chase to attract the quality field that the race deserves.”

“We’re also extending the welcome to owners that the fixture has always provided to sponsors and officials – every owner who declares a horse on the day will receive vouchers to our hospitality tent."

"We’re hugely appreciative of the PPORA’s support – they couldn’t be more lovely to deal with – and if we could have all six races sponsored by them, we’d lap it up!”

In addition to the support for the races, the PPORA will again be recognising five winners for the 2025/2026 point-to-point season at the National Point-to-Point Awards. The PPORA Awards are designed to celebrate achievement at all levels of the sport, from jockeys who have not ridden a winner before the start of the season, to success in the PPORA races, to lifetime achievement.

All PPORA-backed races are limited to horses owned and ridden by current members of the PPORA. To be eligible to ride in the Novice Riders Championship Final, jockeys must have been placed in the first four in any PPORA Club Members Conditions Race in the current season.