# Point to Point Racing in the Cotswolds

> Point to point racing explained: amateur racing over fences for hunting horses, the rules on thoroughbreds and hunting certificates, and Cotswold meetings.

URL: https://cotswolds.info/equestrian/point-to-point-racing.shtml  
Section: Equestrian  
Last updated: 2023-07-24

![Cotswold Equestrian](https://cotswolds.info/images/equestrian/cheltenham_racecourse.jpg)

Point-to-Point racing is a form of amateur horseracing over fences for hunting horses. In Ireland many of the horses will appear in these races before they compete in National Hunt races either in Ireland or in the UK. In contrast in England and Wales horses running in point to points are more likely to be at the end of their national hunt careers. The Irish point to point is used as a nursery for future young stars: a horse that wins its debut point to point in Ireland will often sell for a lot of money.

Horses running in Point to Points must be thoroughbreds, save in the case of hunt members races and certain other club members races (e.g. Pegasus club members race). The horses have to obtain a certificate from a Master of Foxhounds stating that they have hunted for at least 4 days in the season before racing starts in January. In addition the jockey must obtain a certificate from the hunt secretary.

![Point to Point racing](https://cotswolds.info/images/equestrian/point-point.jpg)

Point to point regulations in the UK and Ireland require all races to be run over 3 miles, but there are exceptions. Certain important races are run over longer distances, e.g. the Lady Dudley Cup (3 miles 2 furlongs) and the Heythrop men's open (4 miles). Maiden races for young horses (aged 4 to 7) can be run over 2 miles 4 furlongs.

A three mile race is almost invariably 2 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 number of fences and at least 2 fences must have ditches.

![The fences are made of birch and are approx 4 foot 6 inches high.](https://cotswolds.info/images/equestrian/fence.jpg)The fences are made of birch and are approx 4 foot 6 inches high.

Point to point regulations in England prevent licence holders training under rules from training pointers. However there are so many exceptions to this rule that it is almost without any effect at all.

Horses that are eligible to run in points are also eligible to run in hunter chases, i.e. races run under rules over regulation fences open only to horses with a current hunter certificate.

### Point to Point Racing in and around the Cotswolds

**Date**

**Fixture**

**Course**

**First Race**

Saturday 4 March 2017

Duke of Beaufort

Didmarton

12-30

Saturday 26 March 2017

Vale of White Horse

Siddington

1-00

Sunday 26 March 2017

Ledbury

Maisemore Park

12-30

Sunday 9 April 2017

Cotswold

Andoversford

2-00

Monday 17 April 2017

North Cotswold

Paxford

1-00

Saturday 1 April 2017

Croome and W.W.

Upton-upon-Severn

2-00

Saturday 16 April 2017

Worcestershire

Chaddesley Corbett

2-00

Sunday 16 April 2017

Cotswold Vale Farmers

Andoversford

2-30

Saturday 29 April 2017

Berkeley

Woodford

2-00

Saturday 6 May 2017

Wheatland

Chaddesley Corbett

1-30

Monday 29 May 2017

Albrighton & Woodland

Chaddesley Corbett

2-00

### Useful websites

Point-to-Point

## Cotswold Point to Point Racing

This page last modified Monday, 24-Jul-2023 11:24:35 CEST