A Guide to Point to Point Racing
The Point to Point Season
The point to point season runs between November and June and includes over 200 races, which are generally over three miles and feature 18 or more fences to be jumped. There are some longer races and some 2 ½ mile races exist for maidens.
Different Point to Point Races
There are many different types of point to point races. Maiden races, as mentioned above, are slightly shorter than standard and are effectively beginners’ races. These are open to horses which have never won a point to point race. Intermediate races, as the name suggests, are one step up and are open to horses which have never won another intermediate point to point race. There are also hunt members’ races which are open to horses which qualify for that particular hunt and confined races which are open to the organising hunt and 15 adjoining hunts. Finally an open point to point race is self explanatory and is open to any horses.
The History of Point to Point
Point to points date back to the 1800s when huntsmen began racing each other over long stretches of countryside, from one church steeple to another. Because they referred to the steeples as points, the name point to point was soon used for this type of racing.
Today, point to point races tend to take place on tracks rather than in the open countryside. There are obstacles and jumps to simulate the conditions of the very first point to point races.
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