Going looks good for a record crowd

Point to Point racing has a proud track record in Yorkshire and the organisers of what is now known as Easingwold Races that takes place this Sunday are hoping that this year’s two meetings will once again attract record crowds of around 5,000.

The races are run and managed by the York and Ainsty Hunt Point to Point committee, of which arable and pig farmers John Cornforth and Philip Clark are chairman and clerk of the course respectively.

Earlier this week Philip was doing something that most farmers would have been amazed to see, given the weather conditions they and other farmers suffered from throughout the winter – they were watering the track. It’s something that is particular to Easingwold’s meeting.

“We have developed a fine reputation over the years for providing good going here at Easingwold Races. In January when we took a first look at this course that we have used for nearly 50 years there was no way that it would have been raceable, but we have been very fortunate in the last month that we haven’t had any measurable rain. The land has dried up and that’s why we are able to water the track.

“There are 18 Point to Point meetings in the Yorkshire area from January to mid-May and we have two with both of ours late in the season. As the first of ours is in April the weather can often be dry and we put the water on the course to make it safer for the horses. Everyone enjoys racing here because we have ideal conditions and because we provide such good going.

“My wife looks after all the entries and we have 139 at present. That will be the most at any meeting in Yorkshire this season, but that doesn’t mean they will all run. We are restricted to 16 horses in each race under Jockey Club guidelines, which is two less than the norm, because we have a couple of short corners. If we get to the stage where all horses entered are actually here to run then we split up a race into two, but the card at the moment is for seven races.”

John Cornforth recently took over as chairman of the Point to Point committee following the passing away of his good friend and close colleague Geoff Gill of Ouseburn. John became involved with the York & Ainsty over 30 years ago when his daughter joined the pony club. It sparked an interest that became far more than just a hobby. “We farm around 400 acres at Scalibur Farm, Knaresborough with a combination of crops and farrowing and finishing pigs from our herd of 560 sows.

“I started with ponies and then got involved on the hunting side with friends from young farmers’ club days. I then started keeping Point to Point horses and my son Philip rode them. He won our members race three or four times over the years and is now Master of the York & Ainsty Hunt.”

John’s interest went further than Point to Point and he had some success in National Hunt with a couple of his horses.

“The best we had was Miss Crzina who came in second in the Horse & Hound Cup in Stratford; and the other was Buddy Geary who won the Fraser Cup at Cartmel.”

Philip also has his own Point to Point horses and his daughter competed at one time. He now has leading novice jockey Emma Todd who works in trainer Tim Walford’s yard on board his hope for this year Dead Ringa.

There was a time when Point to Point meetings were seen as a wholly amateur sport full of Corinthian attitude, but these days they appear to be more of a training ground for new trainers and jockeys. Philip sees this as inevitable, although he believes none of it detracts from the country sport itself.

“These continue to be meetings that the whole of the countryside wants to come to and there are still farmers, farmer’s sons and daughters, doctors and other trades and professionals who compete. But to ensure you have the right number of jockeys at a meeting you need the lads and lasses from trainers’ yards too. At our core it is still amateur riders and there is always a big shout when we win either as trainers or local jockeys.”

Prior to the Easingwold Races there is a huge amount of work put in by a large team of volunteers and both John and Philip are fully aware of how significant this time is.

“It costs between £10,000-£12,000 to stage and the support of sponsors, advertisers, local traders and volunteers is absolutely vital.

“We have a full schedule of activity from January onwards that includes brush cutting for the jumps, taking out the fences, putting in the running rails and parade ring and getting ready for inspection by the Jockey Club.

“We get permission to go into forestry and cut what amounts to between 300-400 bundles of birch for repairing the fences and we always have around 40-50 really enthusiastic helpers who are all looking forward to the season.”

The track is an oval circuit and each race is two full circuits plus an uphill finish to the winning post. There are eight fences including one with an open ditch. The crowds usually arrive early.

“We have a 14-acre field that acts as the main car park and a lot of those who come tend to get here in the morning, take a walk around the course, have a picnic and then come for a beer and a bet. We have fabulous catering and there will be a hog roast.”

Philip who farms at Low Towthorpe Farm, Farlington is used to selecting stock since he has pigs and sheep as well as his crops. He’s also aware of the form of the horses and jockeys. So who is his pick for Sunday?

“I’d say Drom, if it runs it will go close. Drom is running in the Ladies Open at 3.10pm and is out of David Easterby’s yard. But I’d obviously like to see my own horse Dead Ringa do well. Emma rides it in the 4.20 race.

“The race that has become particularly popular over the years is the Open Maiden race for four, five, six and seven-year-olds at 2.35pm. At present we have 27 runners for that one, so we may have to look for a new sponsor pretty quickly on Sunday if we split the race into two. The horses like the trip and support it very well.”

The races are at Rising Sun Farm just out of Easingwold, by kind permission of Marion Blacker. Many farmers may remember her husband, Mike, who sadly lost his battle against cancer six years ago. Mike was a prominent NFU representative and former chairman of the sugar beet board. First race is at 2pm – although you would be best advised to be there much earlier.