Category: Horse Racing

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.

Rachael Blackmore has announced her immediate retirement from the saddle, bringing to a close a glittering career that has reshaped the landscape of National Hunt racing.

The first woman to ride a Grand National winner and the first to claim the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup, Blackmore has transcended the sport with her composure, tactical brilliance, and historic achievements.

Now, as she has stepped inside the parade ring for the final time as a rider, it’s only fitting to remember the horses that helped define her legacy.

From Cheltenham champions to Aintree legends, Blackmore’s bond with some of jump racing’s most celebrated names will never be forgotten.

And as punters begin to reassess the horse racing odds in a post-Blackmore era, here are four horses forever linked with one of the sport’s greats.

Honeysuckle

No horse defined Rachael Blackmore’s career more than the peerless Honeysuckle. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the mare became an icon in her own right, winning four Cheltenham Festival Grade 1s: the Mares’ Hurdle in 2020 and 2023, and the Champion Hurdle in 2021 and 2022.

Their unbeaten run of 16 races included dominant performances against the best hurdlers in training, and the horse’s emotional farewell victory with Blackmore in the saddle in the 2023 Mares’ Hurdle was one of the defining moments of recent Festival history.

A Plus Tard

Blackmore and A Plus Tard produced one of the most emphatic Gold Cup victories of modern times. After finishing second in 2021, the pair returned to Cheltenham in 2022 and blew the field away, surging clear by 15 lengths to give Blackmore a historic first Gold Cup win.

The performance was a masterclass in judgement and patience—qualities that defined her riding style. Under her guidance, A Plus Tard became one of the most formidable staying chasers in training, and their triumph remains a career highlight.

Minella Times

A horse that will forever be etched in racing folklore, Minella Times made Rachael Blackmore the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021.

While the renewal was held behind closed doors due to the pandemic, it was still in front of a global audience, and Blackmore delivered a near-flawless ride over Aintree’s marathon trip and iconic fences, guiding the JP McManus-owned gelding to a famous victory.

The image of her crossing the line in the green and gold silks is now part of racing history. That victory wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a moment that redefined what was possible in the sport.

Bob Olinger

A horse of supreme talent and versatility, Bob Olinger delivered three Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 wins under Blackmore, showcasing their sustained success over multiple seasons.

He powered to victory in the 2021 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, followed up with a controversial but still dominant success in the 2022 Turners’ Novices’ Chase, and added the 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle to his glittering CV.

Through the highs and the occasional setbacks, Blackmore remained loyal to Bob Olinger, and their shared resilience made his final Festival win at the ripe age of 11 all the more special.

April 12, 2023 marked the twentieth anniversary of the demise Thirsk Classic Trial, which, for decades, was run over a sharp, flat, left-handed mile at Thirsk Racecourse in North Yorkshire. Granted that Classic winners trained in the North of England have proved few and far between in recent years, younger readers may find the setting incongruous, but the Thirsk Classic Trial nonetheless enjoyed a respectable, if unspectacular, roll of honour.

The likes of Nearula (1953), Pall Mall (1958), High Top (1972) and Tap On Wood (1979) all won the race on the way to victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. More recently, the 1997 winner, Starborough, could only manage fourth in the Newmarket Classic, but went on to win the inaugural running of the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot the following month.

The Thirsk Classic Trial was promoted to Listed status in 2000, making it the only ‘black type’ race run at the course. Ironically, the final running of the race, sponsored for the one and only time by Sky Bet, was worth £32,000 in prize money, making it the most valuable ever staged at Thirsk. That 2003 renewal was won by Royal Dignitary, trained by David Loder and ridden by Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori, but just five of the orignial 18 entries went to post and the winner was not even entered in the 2,000 Guineas.

Commenting on the discontinuation of what was one of the oldest Classic trials in the country, Clerk of the Course Christopher Tetley said, ‘The race never really took off as such and, although a number of good horses have come out of it, it only ever attracted a handful of runners. The lack of numbers, and the conviction that the resources going into the race could be better spent elsewhere, were behind the decision to stop the race.’. They say all good things come to an end, but real money pokies australia wolfwinner is still a valid option for the betting public so its not all bad news!

Barry Hills, trainer of Tap On Wood, expressed his disappointment at the decision, saying, ‘ I have run a lot of good horses in the Thirsk Classic Trial. It fitted well in the calendar, and was a good race for the North. It’s a sad loss.’

In short, the nineteenth century politician who was known as ‘The Leviathan of the Turf’ was Lord George Bentinck. Born in 1802, Bentinck was the third son of William Bentinck, Fourth Duke of Portland and, two years before his death in 1848, famously led the protectionist opposition to the repeal of the Corn Laws in the House of Commons, which ultimately cost the Conservative Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, his position.

However, before devoting himself to his political activities, Bentinck was one of the most colourful and influential figures in the history of British horse racing. In Jewish mythology, the Leviathan was a primordial sea monster, but the term has come to mean anything that is very large or powerful, so his sobriquet is not entirely inappropriate.Bentinck was a hugely successful racehorse owner, responsible for seven British Classic winners, including the unbeaten filly Crucifix who, in 1840, won the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas and Oaks. He was also an inveterate gambler, who regularly won, and lost, vast sums of money and the pre-eminent member of the Jockey Club of his day.

Alongside his friend, Charles Gordon Lennox, Fifth Duke of Richmond, who was also a steward of the Jockey Club, Bentinck was responsible was many of the innovations that shaped the faced of modern horse racing in Britain. At his local course, Goodwood, he introduced racecard numbers corresponding to those displayed on the numbers board for each horse, a pre-race parade in front of the grandstands, public saddling and unsaddling and a flag start. He also conceived the Stewards’ Cup, in its current guise, which was run for the first time in 1840. Thus, what became the ‘Goodwood Festival’ was seen as the epitome of good practice and many of the reforms implemented at the West Sussex course became commonplace elsewhere throughout the country.