Horserace Betting Levy Board

Allocations of Capital Credits: 2009

HBLB at its December Board meeting approved the following:

a) The Fixture Fee transfers to Capital Credits of £1,844,356 for the period 1st January to 30th June 2009.

b) The Regulatory Head Office Fee Grant transfers to Capital Credits of £690,300 for the period of 1st January to 30th June 2009.

c) The Integrity Fee Grant transfers to Capital Credits of £942,958 for the period 1st January to 30th June 2009.

d) The HFL Laboratory Fee Grant transfers to Capital Credits of £699,932 for the period 1st January to 30th June 2009.

e) The maximum allocations to racecourses of Capital Credits under the Prize Money / Capital Credits Scheme of £13,466,510 for the period of 1st January to 30th June 2009.

f) The Capital Credit Grants requested by racecourses to be applied during the January to June 2009 quarter as repayments of loans in respect of approved developments projects and totalling £2,891,000.


Integrity Grants: 2009

The Levy Board at its December meeting approved the following:

a) The payment of Fixture Fee Grants to all racecourses (excluding Arena Leisure) of £575 per fixture for Photo-finish Services, for a period from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009.

b) The payment of grants to all racecourses (excluding Arena Leisure) of £3,670 per fixture for Camera Petrol Services, for the period from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009.

c) The funding of a sixth camera at Chester Racecourse in 2009, at a cost of £12,000.

d) Consideration of an alternative mechanism for the distribution of integrity grants from 1st January 2010.


Breeders’ Prizes Scheme: 2009

HBLB approved a funding of £1.92m for the Breeders’ Prizes Scheme, comprising a basic allocation of £1.62m and a £300,000 roll-over from the underspend of the 2008 Scheme. The funding also included a £28,000 “top-slice” contribution to the TBA British Stud Staff project.

Veterinary Education Awards 2009/10

HBLB annual veterinary budget provides for support for post-graduate veterinary education to develop and maintain the specialist equine veterinary clinical, research and teaching expertise needed in Britain for the racing and breeding Thoroughbred horse.

HBLB approved the recommendations of the Veterinary Advisory Committee to commit £320,990 from the 2010 Veterinary Budget to support three new Veterinary Education Awards.

HBLB approved the recommendations of the Veterinary Advisory Committee to reinstate the full period of office for seven existing VAC members.


Point To Point Grants 2009

HBLB approved an allocation of £318,000 to Point-to-Point Grants in 2009.


Racecourse Improvements

Loans:

Northern Racing

HBLB approved a £1,010,000 interest-free loan to Northern Racing Limited from its Capital Fund towards the drainage works at Chepstow, Newcastle and Uttoxeter.


Capital Credits:

Ascot

HBLB approved a Capital Credit Grant of £349,600 towards the provision of new glazed canopies to the existing private boxes to the East and West of the North elevation of the Grandstands at Levels 3,4 and 5.

Chester

HBLB approved a Capital Credit Grant of up to £912,480 from accumulated Capital Credits to meet the cost of providing:

• refurbishment of the private boxes in the County Stand and Leverhulme Stand.
   
• Leverhulme ground floor refurbishment incorporating new permanent entrance to replace the current canopy, removal of the Tote credit facility and replace the new toilet facilities.
   
• Parade ring toilet block.

Ripon

HBLB approved a Capital Credit Grant of up to £183,000 towards the cost of updating and modernising the St Wilfrid’s Bar, Annual Badgeholders’ Bar and Club Dining Room.

Salisbury

HBLB approved a Capital Credit Grant of up to £35,000 towards the cost of demolishing the old Silver Stand within the Tattersalls Enclosure.

Thirsk

HBLB approved a Capital Credit Grant of up to £140,000 to Thirsk Racecourse to meet the cost of providing a lift within the Hambleton Grandstand.