Horse Racing

[charliesteve]

Hi. What is the difference between a Point to Point horse race and an ordinary horse race. Thanks.

[aelmpvw]

i think point to point is steeplechasing for amateur riders

[drmorgans]

Although they are often regular events, point to points are held over farmers fields, rather than a proper racecourse.

[royfromaus]

Trainers are also amateurs.

[Togo]

The point to point races are for amateur riders in the UK but in Ireland professional riders are allowed to participate. A lot of horses run in point to point races which are organised and scheduled by local hunt or pony clubs and come under the jurisdiction of Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association and the Point-to-Point Secretary’s Association. The sport is overseen by The Jockey Club. "The sport of point-to-point racing, or pointing as it is also known, dates back to 1836 when hunting men used to race their horses from church steeple to church steeple — hence the name “point-to-point”."

[AuntPollyGrey]

For a horse to participate in a P-toP it has to have been 'hunted'. All this means these days is it is presented to the Master at the Meet and gets its 'card' stamped -sometimes they will give it a couple of hours with the hunt it depends on the horse. The rider must be 16 years of age or over and not be licensed to ride professionally. the horse must not be trained by anyone with a Jockey Club Trainers license; however many trainers get around this by having an amateur on their Yard (often their wife or partner) In my day in the 1970's we would have a jolly around the local course in the Ladies Race, but these days it's much more competitive. They used to use farmers land to have the race, making fences especially for the event -now they tend to be run at regular racecourses or places where they have other Equestrian Events such as Eventing.

[emmie]

all i know was going to one meeting and it being on farmer land

[Naheed]

Point to Point horse racing is a race in which horses jump over fences that are placed on a track after intervals. In point to point race, the horse must have to jump over the fences that come on their track. However, an ordinary horse race is a simple horse race.

[New Judge]

//...when hunting men used to race their horses from church steeple to church steeple — hence the name “point-to-point”." //

I think that's more the origin of "steeplechase", Togo.

[Togo]

Yes Judge Either Or.

""The two are very closely linked… Steeplechasing started when men would race their hunters across the countryside from one church steeple to the next, or from ‘point-to-point’, as they galloped through the villages.""

Horse & Rider: