There's a racing point to be made

13 April 2012

Point-to-point racing faces a crisis as it begins a new season, and the rural sport could be fighting for survival before long. Next month, the Hunting Bill comes up in the House of Commons. If it goes through, hunting foxes with hounds will be outlawed.

Hunts, who run their own point-to-points at nearly 120 courses across the country, are the lifeblood of 'racing between the flags'.

One poll claims if a fox-hunting ban was passed then very few hunts would disappear. Instead they would have to think of alternatives such as draghunting (following a scent spread on a fake trail) or turn themselves into amateur race meeting clubs.

However, if a number of hunts did disband it would affect point-to-point as many of the hunt members and followers give their services for free at meetings.

These volunteers carry out tasks such as manning car parks and acting as fence stewards. However, it is unlikely these people would be available if hunts were disbanded.

"There is a lot of doom and gloom," said Jonathan Neesom, former Sporting Life point-to-point correspondent and pointing expert commentator. "But there is no reason why this sport should not keep going. You could even argue there would be a few benefits from it. A statement was made about 15 years ago that pointing exists in order to raise money for hunting.

"That was laid down by the Jockey Club, racing's ruling body, and if you took that away the sport would not be hidebound. You could actually make it more professional while still retaining a proper amateur status - ensuring the courses are kept well up to scratch.

"This is bound to be a critical season and the fear of something happening is always worse than the actual outcome normally. As far as I am concerned, if hunting is abolished in the next two months there would still be a pointing season in 2002. In what shape or form is totally open to discussion but it would definitely continue."

One of the latest training converts to the sport is Nick Gifford, 29, son of top National Hunt handler and former Champion jump jockey Josh. Nick started last season and did well with three point-to-point winners, plus four hunter chases (races run on courses operated under Jockey Club rules). He is concerned about the uncertainty of the sport and said: "If the ban goes through there are still a lot of people who are going to try to do it.

"How can they police that in say North Wales in the middle of nowhere? I still think hunts will get round it with draghunting or something - it is part of country life. It certainly won't close down just because they've banned it."

For those unfamiliar with the sport, here are some useful pointers.

? The term point-to-point evolved from horses galloping across country from one point to another. Today, courses resemble more makeshift jumping tracks and are usually set out in farmers' fields. The courses vary from the very basic through to the elite ones like Tweseldown and Larkhill which are almost as good as the Jockey Club National Hunt ones of Hereford, Ludlow and Fakenham.

? Point-to-point riders are amateurs and must be members of their local hunt. The country is split into pointing sections including Devon and Cornwall, East Anglia, Midlands, North West, South East, South Wales, Welsh Borders, West Wales, and Yorkshire.

? Richard Johnson, chasing Tony McCoy for the National Hunt Jockeys' Championship, and Tom Scudamore, son of former champion Peter, rose up the pointing ranks to racing under Jockey Club rules, as did rising star Ben Hitchcott.

? John Maxse, Jockey Club spokesman, and Simon Claisse, clerk of the course at Cheltenham, often compete between the flags and Robert Biddlecombe, son of former jump jockey Terry, is making his name pointing while Carry On star Leslie Phillips is a fan of the sport.

? One of the top horses is 11-year-old Balisteros who won 13 times last year - 10 point-to-points and three hunter chases.

? Leslie Jefford, was men's national champion last season despite damaging a collar-bone when his mount, Country Captain, suffered a fatal heart attack during a race. Jefford rode his first four-timer at Buckfastleigh, all four saddled by David Pipe, son of National Hunt Champion trainer Martin. Polly Gundry was ladies' champion.

? The form book or 'Bible' for point-to-point followers is edited by Ian Mackenzie and Terry Selby and is loved for its roastings, via barbed wit, of useless horses and jockeys.

? This season, which started yesterday, is the longest ever. It ends on the Saturday after the Epsom Derby on 16 June at the Torrington Farmers Meeting at Umberleigh in north Devon.

? The Racing Channel covered 20 meetings last season, giving the sport some welcome exposure. Hopes are high the channel will continue the service this year.

? The phrase 'between the flags' comes from the fact a point-to-point course is usually marked out not by hedges or railings but by flags stuck into the ground.

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