In simple terms, point-to-point racing is a grassroots form of steeplechasing, in which horses trained and ridden by amateurs compete at meetings staged at various point-to-point racecourses in Britain. Originally known as hunt races, point-to-point races were devised in the second half of the nineteenth century, by way of maintaining the fitness of hunting horses outside the main fox hunting season, which traditionally extends from late October to early April.
The latter name derives from the fact that, in the early days, such races were run from one point to another across open country and natural obstacles, such as hedges, ditches and so on. Indeed, church towers often served as landmarks to guide the riders cross-country, hence the term ‘steeplechasing’. More recently, though, point-to-point races have come to be run on oval courses, set up temporarily on open ground, usually working farmland, specifically for the purpose.
Nowadays, the sport of point-to-point racing is overseen by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), but is organised at a local level by one or more hunts, the armed forces or an approved association, club or society. The connection between point-to-point racing and hunting remains as strong as ever, such that all jockeys and owners must be members of, or subscribers to, an affiliated organisation.
A point-to-point fixture typically consists of half a dozen races staged over distances ranging from two to four and a half miles, although most take place over three miles or further. The minimum height of a point-to-point fence is 4’3″ or, in other words, 3″ lower than the ‘regulation’ equivalent. Point-to-point fences also vary in width and stiffness, albeit within guidelines provided by the BHA. It is worth noting that, while point-to-point racing, in itself, is unpretentious, some of the most famous steeplechasers in history, including Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Best Mate and Denman, were pointing graduates.