Come Pointing
The majority of point-to-point meetings (there are just under 80 courses nationwide) take place in some of the most beautiful British countryside, with facilities, food and drink outlets and bookmakers all arriving for one day of great horseracing. For many reasons, point-to-pointing is the grassroots of British jump racing and an instrinsic part of the rural community. You will see many horses and jockeys beginning their racing careers and many under rules racegoers are introduced to the sport through point-to-pointing. Expect to see some exciting races, spend time with family and friends and enjoy picnics at the car boot. It is certainly a more relaxed atmosphere than the professional sport – you can get close to the action, stand by the fences and walk the courses, dogs are also welcome on a lead.
WHAT IS A POINT-TO-POINT?
A point-to-point is a horse race meeting over fences for amateur jockeys held at racecourses throughout Britain, most of which are rural and set-up specifically for the point-to-point fixture, rather than permanent locations. It's a great day out in the countryside where people come together to enjoy the sport and to socialise with friends and family.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY?
Most point-to-point meetings consist of at least six races. The start times vary depending upon the time of year and number of races. Courses usually open their gates at least two hours before the first race, so you have plenty of time to grab a racecard, study the form and enjoy a picnic before racing starts.
FOOD, DRINK AND ENTERTAINMENT
While all point-to-point courses have a bar and stalls selling food and drink, point-to-points are a great opportunity to enjoy a picnic with friends. Most courses also have trade stands to allow you to go shopping, whilst some even have a country fair running alongside the day’s racing. Entertainment for children is often provided in the shape of bouncy castles and fairground rides.
IS THERE A DRESS CODE?
There's no dress code – you can wear what you wish. The season starts in November and finishes in mid-June, so a warm coat and wellies during the colder months are a must, along with thermal undergarments and waterproof clothing, whereas sun cream can be needed as we head into Spring and Summer.
CAN I BRING MY DOG?
Yes, point-to-points provide an ideal opportunity to spend a day in the countryside with your dog. Although please remember that dogs must always be on a lead, should not be left in cars unattended (particularly in warmer water, and to clean up after them.
Note that some point-to-points are held at permanent racecourses such as Bangor-on-Dee, Hexham and Fakenham, so you should check in advance whether dogs are allowed to enter.
HOW DO I PLACE A BET?
Most point-to-points no longer have their own Tote, so betting is with bookmakers, who are usually located near the paddock (where the horses parade before each race). If you're unsure how to place a bet - just ask, and someone will be able help you out.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
Not all courses have facilities for card payments, so be sure to take enough cash to cover the cost of admission and a racecard, any bets you wish to place, and food and drink.
HISTORY OF THE SPORT
The sport of point-to-pointing has evolved considerably since the first fixtures were held in the 19th century, but a day at the races retains its “olde worlde” charm. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, racegoers and participants alike can go where they please and you’re bound to spot familiar and friendly faces. As for the racing, you can count on future stars of the racing world – equine and human – as well as local contenders doing it for fun, and for the love of the sport.
THE FIRST STEEPLECHASE
The first steeplechase was run over 250 years ago in Ireland. Chasing from steeple to steeple or “point-to-point” began in 1752 when a Mr Blake challenged his neighbour Mr O'Callaghan, to race four-and-a-half miles across country from Buttevant church to Doneraile church and to jump stone walls, ditches and hedges en route. By keeping the steeple of the church in sight (steeplechasing), both riders could see their finishing point.
THE BEGINNING OF
POINT-TO-POINT
The first traceable use of the phrase “point-to-point” in connection with a horse race in Britain is in Bell's Life in 1874. A race is described that took place on 2 January from Sutton-on-the-Forest to Brandsby, held by the 9th Lancers stationed at nearby York. The first reference to a hunt holding a point-to-point came in 1875, when the Sporting Gazette contained a detailed account of a Monmouthshire Hunt point-to-point chase held on 12 January from Llansaintfraed to Tykin-under-Little-Skirrid. The oldest point-to-point course still in existence is at Kimble in Buckinghamshire, which has been holding races since 1912.
In Great Britain, local hunts combined in 1913 to form the Master of Hounds Point‐to‐Point Association and issue a standard set of rules. Control passed to the National Hunt Committee in the mid-1930s and to The Jockey Club in the late 1960s. Nowadays, point-to-pointing is run under the auspices of the British Horseracing Authority.
THE RULES
Point-to-point races are normally run over a minimum of three miles, but certain races, including some blue riband events, are longer, and maiden races for young horses are usually run over two-and-a-half miles. A three-mile race is almost invariably two circuits of a typical point-to-point course, although there are one or two exceptions (e.g. Larkhill in Wiltshire). Every course must have a minimum of 18 fences, of which at least two must be open ditches, although this can be reduced if certain fences are unfit or unsafe to be jumped (e.g. due to ground conditions or a fallen horse being in the way). The fences are made of birch and are approximately four feet six inches high. The 2022/2023 season saw an innovation where the traditional orange guard rails on the fences were replaced with white ones, as under rules. Most point-to-point courses are laid out on farm land, although a few are placed on the inside of professional courses.
THE SPORT IS CHANGING
In recent years, reflecting the evolution of traditional countryside pursuits, the sport of point-to-pointing is changing. While many fixtures are still run by the hunts, there are an increasing number of point-to-point club fixtures and the sport is embracing greater professionalism. There are fewer of the traditional participants, who had one horse – or just a few – that they owned, trained (and often bred) themselves and that were ridden by family members. Many trainers and jockeys are now professional (in all but name) and work for licenced yards.
HORSE AND JOCKEY WELFARE
Improved horse and jockey welfare has been a positive outcome of this change, and point-to-pointing now benefits from a close association with the British Horseracing Authority Medical and Veterinary teams. Improved training facilities have resulted in horses becoming fitter and better schooled, and – along with improved course management – this has resulted in fewer falls and a lower injury rate, to both horses and riders.
ENCOURAGING YOUNG RIDERS
For nearly 20 years now, pony racing has been staged at British meetings in an attempt to encourage more young riders into point-to-pointing and both jump and flat racing and another recent innovation has been the growth in ‘young horse’ (four- and five-year-old) maiden races, specifically designed to produce horses to be sold at the sales to go professional jump racing in Britain and Ireland. Every season now sees several point-to-point graduates being sold for six-figure sums.
Racing under Rules
For participants, pointing can act as a stepping-stone to Rules racing for young horses, jockeys, trainers, owners… and even officials. It offers horses a second career after Rules racing and can also provide a new career to participants, e.g. jockeys who retire from riding under Rules and start training pointers.
It also delivers a significant proportion of the numbers under Rules – 70% of licenced jump jockeys, 35% of licenced jump trainers and 10% of horses racing over jumps in any given season.
HORSES
There are – broadly – three types of horse racing in point-to-points:
- Young Horses using Maidens as a stepping-stone to rules.
- Horses progressing through the grades and staying in point-to-points.
- Older horses returning from rules.
Pointing has always been a nursery for future champions, dating back to Gold Cup winners See More Business and Cool Dawn in the 1990s. Now, it supports the development of young horses for Rules via young horse (4-5yo) maidens and point-to-point bumpers. Dual Champion Chase winner Energumene won his only start in British point-to-points and other maiden winners can be great value… and win Under Rules. For example, Ahoy Senor and Does He Know cost £50,000 and £38,000 respectively.
Others go through the grades in point-to-points – success in this field for the likes of Dr Kananga and The Galloping Bear led Ben Clarke being granted a licence to train under Rules, while pointing can also give a new home to former Rules horses. Over 60% of horses formerly raced under Rules but became too high in the handicap, lost their way or their owners were no longer interested in keeping them. Around 40% of horses are 10yo or older and the leading horse in 2021/2022 was 14yo ex-rules horse Southfield Theatre, placed twice at the Cheltenham Festival. He was still winning last season, aged 16.
There are three other types of ex-jump horses racing in points: namely maidens who can’t win under Rules, ex-pointers who have reached their level under Rules and come back, and horses “taking a break” who still have potential under rules.
JOCKEYS
There are – broadly – three types of point-to-point jockey:
- “Professionals” (in all but name) – leading jockeys, who prefer to stay amateur, such as champions Gina Andrews and Will Biddick.
- “Amateurs” (owner-riders / “Corinthians”, e.g. city-based during week). David Maxwell would be the best-known example.
- Actual professionals – stable staff working for Rules yards, including recent leading novice riders Molly Landau and Callum Pritchard.
British point-to-pointing has long been the key provider of jockeys to Rules racing. 71% of all jockeys and 68% of conditionals have ridden in British point-to-points, including over 75% of the top 50 jockeys and 4 of the last 5 champion Conditionals. Championship runner-up Sean Bowen and former leading conditional Luca Morgan are two such names, while current champion jockey Harry Cobden has also come from the sport, and other leading protagonists with a point-to-point background are Nico de Boinville and Daryl Jacob.
TRAINERS
In recent years, the traditional owner-trainer has been in decline and more point-to-point ‘keepers’, the likes of Francesca and Charlie Poste’s Station Yard Racing, are professional in all but name. Many of the larger operations are connected to a licenced trainer – Alan and Lawney Hill run a successful dual yard, with Alan training the point-to-pointers and Lawney holding the Rules licence and more licenced trainers are running horses, that they own themselves, in point-to-points. Names such as Fergal O’Brien and Ben Pauling spring to mind.
Licensed trainers like Tom Lacey, Joe Tizzard and Evan Williams all come from a point-to-point background and other successful yards are using their point-to-pointing connections to bridge the gap between the two forms of jump racing. The likes of Chris and Jenny Gordon split their yard to allow riders to develop in the point-to-point arena, Dan Skelton's assistant Nick Pearce trains pointers from a separate yard to offer race-riding opportunities to his stable staff and multiple champion jockey Will Biddick prepares and trains horses for Paul Nicholls, many of which go on to success under Rules for the master of Ditcheat.
OWNERS
Owners of point-to-pointers are either traditional point-to-point families who would never consider switching to Rules, such as the Turner dynasty, those with a background in point-to-pointing, now turning increasingly to Rules – like Lynn and Martin Redman - and owners who mostly have horses in the professional game but race the occasional point-to-pointer. Colm Donlon, for example, has had great success in recent years with Caid Du Berlais.
Many owners with a point-to-point heritage – the late Paul Barber, owner of See More Business and Denman, Ann Hamilton of Tommy’s Oscar fame and Welsh Grand National-winning trainer Nicky Martin (The Two Amigos) are now racing primarily or exclusively under Rules, whether for the better facilities, higher prize money, or greater glory…
OFFICIALS
Rules racing benefits from pointing expertise at senior and junior levels. British Horseracing Authority senior judge Nick Bostock worked in a pointing yard as a teenager, briefly race-rode and still stewards regularly between the flags. Point-to-Point Authority Board member Fiona Needham has won the Cheltenham Foxhunters as both jockey and, last season, as trainer and is General Manager of Catterick racecourse, and even youngsters are getting in on the act – 25-year-old former jockey Nathan Green is in training to be a BHA steward.
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