QUEENSBERRY HOUSE, HIGH STREET, NEWMARKET, SUFFOLK CB8 9BD
Telephone: +44 (0)1638 665021 Facsimile: +44 (0)1638 660283
e-mail: bloodstock@bba.co.uk

10th February 2000

Lord Burns
P.O. Box 31010
LONDON
SW1H 9ZL

The British Bloodstock Agency plc, which was founded in 1911 in the oldest, largest and only publicly quoted bloodstock agency in the country. Its principal activity is the provision of services as agents to the international bloodstock industry including the purchase and sale of bloodstock, stallion shares and nominations, the management of stallion syndicates, marketing, advertising, shipping of thoroughbred horses and insurance. Our representatives regularly attend horse sales worldwide and the purchase of National Hunt and Point-to-Point horses constitutes a significant part of our business.

Point-to-Point meetings are regulated by the Jockey Club although they are almost entirely organised and run by the local hunts. They are generally regarded as the training ground for both horses and riders prior to National Hunt racing with young horses learning their trade. National Hunt horses enjoy a healthy and active retirement Point-to-Pointing and in the hunting field. Some 700,000 people support meetings all over the country at 120 different venues and make use of the bookmakers, refreshment vendors, equestrian stalls etc. that also attend. As a company, we have purchased many horses for this purpose and have watched them, in some cases, progress into National Hunt horses. Around 10% of National Hunt runners have previously been Point-to-Pointing.

A number of our employees and their families are involved in Point-to-Pointing as either owners, trainers, riders, grooms and in the case of one of our sales directors, as a commentator.

As we mentioned in our Annual Report, (a copy of which is enclosed) the market for National Hunt horses is vibrant and the Group has been and is continuing to be extremely active in this sector. We have two bloodstock agents who are highly regarded and are very successful in the purchase of National Hunt horses for both individual owners and syndicates. The BBA runs the Million in Mind syndicate, in its ninth year, which enables many people to become the owner of a National Hunt racehorse at an affordable price.

This would be impossible to predict but we agree with the estimates that at a minimum, at least one quarter of Point-to-Point venues would close as a consequence. Such a shrinkage is estimated to lead to a drop of at least 25% in the total numbers of people and horses participating in the sport.

Hunter Chases, for horses which have hunted in the current season, make up 10% of the National Hunt steeplechase programme and these races would obviously be affected.

One of our greatest concerns is the welfare of horses surplus to requirement in the event of a ban on hunting. At present, many flat-bred horses transfer to hunting, Point to-Pointing or National Hunt racing once their flat careers are over. A ban would shut off an avenue where retired racehorses can continue to live comfortable lives looked after by people who understand and care for them.

The effects of a ban on hunting with hounds from the perspective of this Company would be:

Your brief is not, as I understand it, to address the issue of whether hunting with hounds is cruel, so I shall conclude by pointing out that rural Britain would never be the same again, that thousands of decent law-abiding people will become potential criminals and that the fox will not benefit. Indeed, a ban on hunting will lead, in most areas, to a decline in the numbers and health of the fox population.

James Beazley
Managing Director

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Date uploaded to site 17 May 2000