Heather has a point to make about racing

This month she was appointed to the Point to Point Board of the Jockey Club (now known as the Horseracing Regulatory Authority), where she is one of three independent members.

Her appointment, which she takes up on January 1, was announced at Cheltenham races last Friday.

She is passionate about the sport, which in the early days consisted of races run from one church spire to the next '“ literally point to point on the horizon. It is a sport for amateur riders and horses that have been out with a hunt four times in a season, nowadays following a trail rather than a fox.

Heather's key aims in her new role will be to work with the board towards control and development in point to pointing, which has around 200 meetings a year in all parts of the country, making grass-roots racing available to everyone.

"Where else can you pay just 20 to admit a vehicle and passengers to a day out in the country, with the spectacle of racing, entertainments for children, shopping for women and the chance to bet on the races and enjoy a whole afternoon of fun for all the family?" she asked.

Every course receives a contribution towards preparation, but cars through the gate are the bottom-line figure to success.

"A lot of courses have only one hit at it, with just one fixture a year, and the weather can be crucial. There is now national sponsorship for some point to points, and some fixtures are lucky enough to get key dates like Easter weekend, when a good crowd in assured.

"But I would like to see some national sponsorship for ladies' races and more awareness of point to pointing generally. It is a sport which enables amateur riders to have fun and gives a vital new lease of life to retired racehorses, which are capable of tackling lower key racing and obstacles, giving them a new role in life," said Heather.

For full feature about Heather and her horses, plus more pictures, see SXussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette November 21.