Sisters who make a point of racing

GRASS roots," says Charlotte Brader, when asked to describe the difference between point-to-pointing and mainstream horseracing. She's well-qualified to judge. She comes from a family of point-to-point enthusiasts and her day job is at Beverley's "proper" racecourse.

This season – delayed by the weather, it runs from now until June – there is a concerted push in Yorkshire to get people who haven't been point-to-pointing before to give it a go. Two of the faces at the forefront of the big push are farmer's daughter Charlotte, 26, and her twin Emma.

Brought up on the family farm at Thixendale, they were hooked at an early age and it's Emma who has mostly gone on to be the rider. Charlotte can often be found on a microphone rather than in the saddle, on duty in the commentary box.

Prize money rarely amounts to more than a 100 tops, so this sport is not about big bucks or keeping up with the Joneses. "All you need is a warm coat, pair of wellies and a tenner in your pocket," says Charlotte who now lives in racing-mad Malton. "Loads of people come early with picnics. Kids, dogs, they're all welcome. There's no dress code and usually there is a beer tent and a volunteers' stand with home-made refreshments at very reasonable prices."

The sport was started by hunting men who raced their horses from point-to-point. During the 19th century things became more sophisticated with professionally-trained horses racing from steeple to steeple – hence steeplechasing (modern racing over-the-jumps).

The better it became, the more it excluded the sporting amateur. Unable to compete at this level, they staged events excluding racehorses and professional jockeys, with local hunts playing the key organisational role. Today, professional riders and anyone who has been paid to ride in a race are still not allowed.

"We always had point-to-pointers on the farm when I was a child," says Charlotte. "They were usually bred by my grandfather or my parents and we'd all go as a family. As we got older Emma and I got more involved with the horses, breaking them in, riding and hunting with them.

"I do the announcing, rather than the race commentary. I read out things like the runners and riders and any changes in the jockeys' colours. I'm also expected to say whether the jockeys are carrying any extra weight – if that includes any jockeys I know, I try to read it out as quickly as possible.

"There is usually a best turned-out prize just before the horses leave the paddock and then the commentator takes over as they go down to the starting post. Last year our horse won a best turned-out. I had plaited his mane and Emma had done the tail, so I read out, 'The winner was Keen Whip and he was done by Emma Brader and me'."

Charlotte got her first taste of announcing when she was 22. "One of the organisers had heard me at a local show. My dad had roped me in as the announcer hadn't turned up. It was very exciting because it was the first time that my family had two runners on the same day – our only two that season – and they both won.

"The most memorable day came last year, when my sister won the Grimthorpe Gold Cup – one of the toughest races usually ridden by men – on our parents' horse, Duchess Account.

"It was such a tight finish and I couldn't see the winning line. The judge and I had walkie talkies so that he could read the results straight through to me and when he announced that Emma and Duchess had won I burst into tears.

"I calmed myself down and started to read out the order past the post, but the tears came back again and all my friends said they couldn't understand what I was saying. But they knew who the winner was because of the emotions coming across the loudspeaker.

"A few friends have also offered to donate money to the hosting point-to-point if I read out certain funny notices, however, as yet, the donation hasn't been quite enough for me to do this."

While there's plenty of light-hearted banter at the point-to-points, racegoers aren't shy about voicing any criticism of the announcer.

"You've got to be loud, and the other thing people find frustrating is when the announcer reads numbers too quickly. So I always imagine I am reading the runners to my dad, who is slightly deaf, and my grandfather, who is disabled so can't turn the pages very quickly."

Horses must have been hunting before they are allowed to enter. Prize money for open events is 250 (including win and place prize money) and 175 for other races. Several point-to-point innovations have found their way into mainstream racing, such as Sunday racing with betting.

Entry is usually about 20 for a car full of people, or 10 for individuals. Children are free and there's often a racecard, listing runners and riders, included in the price. Apart from food and fresh air, you can spot equestrian stars of the future. The winner of the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup, See More Business, along with Best Mate (winner of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cups) and Denman (2008 Gold Cup winner) all started out at their local point-to-points.

Top jockeys Richard Dunwoody, Carl Llewellyn, Richard Johnson and Andrew Thornton all cut their teeth on the point-to-point course.

The word "course" might be an overstatement. Volunteers put in a lot of work building the jumps and taping off the course, but the events are more often than not held in farmers' fields. These may be switched, so double-check before setting off.

"On the flipside of that, it's one of point-to-pointing's charms that it gives the spectators access to often breathtaking countryside that is normally out-of-bounds," adds Charlotte. "What more could a typical Yorkshire man or woman want? A cheap day out in the countryside is surely many people's idea of heaven.

"In spite of the recession the sport on a national level is thriving. But we need to encourage the next generation of enthusiasts. The overwhelming thing about point-to-pointing is people's passion for it.

"Those taking part usually have a normal job to allow them to afford their hobby as you couldn't fund it from winnings alone."

For those who want to give it a try, but only have a minimal interest in horses and betting, the insider information is that the refreshment tent at the Staintondale Hunt's point-to-point at Charm Park, near Scarborough, usually beats the rest of the field.

See www.pointingyorkshire.co.uk or www.pointtopoint.co.uk.

Point-to-Point Tips for the novice racegoer

Yorkshire's top name Jockeys:

Last year's Yorkshire Male Champion – Chris Dawson. Last year's Yorkshire Female Champion – Jo Foster

The Greenall brothers (four of them, Tom, Oliver, Toby and Jake) are all good jockeys with some great horsepower, as well as Guy Brewer, Mark Walford and Miles Seston, Jacqueline Coward, Tina Jackson, Pip Tutty and the Mason sisters – Joanna, (the eldest), Becky and Laura (twins)

The Brader twins' six Yorkshire horses to follow: Eliza Doalott

8yo bay mare

Trainer: Maxine Stirk, Ripon.

The apple of her trainer's eye. Eliza will be running in open races. She is only a small horse but has a massive heart.

Barrio

7yo brown gelding

Trainer: Chris Dawson, Sedgefield.

Previously in training in Ireland. Dawson thinks he'll fair well on good ground and sharp tracks. Ran an encouraging first race for connections at Alnwick.

Attrapeur

5yo bay gelding

Trainer: David Easterby, Sheriff Hutton, near York.

Previously in training with Nigel Twiston-Davies, David thinks this horse will work his way through the ranks. He was beaten in his last race under rules by former Yorkshire point-to-pointer The Good Guy.

The Snurglar

8yo bay gelding

Trainer: Cherry Coward, Scackleton, near York. Two wins out of two runs in point-to-points. A nice sort who is sure to continue to progress through the ranks for his connections.

Fli Mi Son

7yo chestnut gelding

Trainer: Gillian Walford, Sheriff Hutton, near York

Winner of the 2008/2009 season, best homebred in Yorkshire. The best is still to come.

Blanding's Castle

9yo roan gelding

Trainer: Karen Tutty, Osmotherley

Looked impressive in ladies' open last season, winning three from four starts and should retain the form for 2009-2010. There could be competition for the ride from Karen's daughters Pip and Gemma.

Bookmakers will be on course. Don't be afraid to ask them questions, as long as you don't leave it until the last minute.

Hunt/Club horses must be affiliated to that hunt/club to be eligible. Maiden horses must never have won a race; a restricted horse has only won a hunt race or maiden; the open class is for top of the class point-to-pointers. The intermediate and confined classes are similar, but if you win one and want to run in another you will start to pick up penalties, similar to a handicap.

Tomorrow the season opens with the West of Yore Steeplechases, Whitcliffe Grange, HG4 3AS, 10 per person including racecard, under-16s free. Next Sunday is the Old Raby Hunt Club, Witton Castle, DL14 0DE, 20 per car, single occupancy, 10 per person. Details www.pointingyorkshire.co.uk