The British Horseracing Board announced yesterday that prizemoney in 1999 hit a record at more than £69 million, However, the BHB has renewed its call for increased contributions from the bookmaking industry to further improve returns to owners.

Total prizemoney last year was £69,062,983, an increase of 9.8 per cent on the 1998 figure.

BHB chief executive Tristram Ricketts said: "Prizemoney is crucial to the prosperity of the entire racing industry, so an increase of the kind confirmed today is good news for racing."

The figures also received a guarded welcome from Michael Harris, chief executive of the Racehorse Owners' Association.

Harris said: "While there is a long way to go before prizemoney returns for owners in Britain reach an acceptable level, today's figures undoubtedly represent a significant step in the right direction."

While welcoming the figures, Ricketts reiterated the BHB's demand for increased contributions to racing from bookmakers.

"Even with prizemoney at 1999 levels, racehorse owners still lose, on average, over three-quarters of their investment in keep and training costs.

"That will only be put right when racing succeeds in securing from the betting industry a fair price for its product."

Norman Williamson has been booked to ride Sunset Lodge in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park tomorrow by Co Limerick trainer Charles Byrnes, who will drive his stable star over to England today.

Byrnes said: "This is a big step up in class but we'll know where we stand with him afterwards. We were offered big money for the horse by a couple of English trainers but we turned them down."

The eight-year-old was a 15-length winner of the Fitzpatrick Castle Hurdle at Leopardstown earlier this month.