Point-to-Point Focus – Nick Alexander

Catch up on the latest point-to-point focus column, with guest editor Nick Alexander, which appeared in the Racing Post on Friday, December 6.

Point-to-pointing has given our family so much fun throughout my life.

Early memories of father Cyril riding, usually falling off, but very occasionally winning, brother Jamie taking the sport up late but now riding better than ever in his mid-fifties, daughter Lucy dead heating on her first ride as a 16-year-old en-route to becoming champion conditional under Rules, and son Kit being champion point-to-point rider in our area – the sport has been central to our lives.

My only disappointment is that I only had a handful of rides and failed to ride a winner due to a complete lack of bottle; that included one race when we managed to get my three brothers and I to ride against each other. Nicknamed the ‘Fearless Foursome’, it was fairly typical that the only other runner beat the lot of us!

Jump racing needs to treasure and nurture point-to-pointing; everyone should be aware of the important part it plays in our sport. Trainers can cut their teeth between the flags, learning from their mistakes away from the public eye of racing under Rules and the sometimes very negative focus of social media. Owners are introduced to the sport in a lower-cost, easy going environment that often encourages them into Jump racing. Most of the British jockeys riding so successfully today started out in point-to-points, often preceded by pony racing – again they had the chance to fine tune their skills in a fun but competitive amateur atmosphere.

Point-to-pointing also provides stable staff with an opportunity to enjoy the thrill of race riding, which enhances their commitment to racing. We train one point-to-pointer each season for the staff to ride, which gives heaps of fun and satisfaction and creates a positive buzz in the yard.

The sport also serves horses very well, firstly as a nursery for young horses that may be better suited to start with a point-to-point than a bumper, and then as a way of giving so many of them a second career when racing under Rules in competitive handicaps just becomes a little too much.

Jump racing needs point-to-pointing at a number of levels, but it must be aware that all is not rosy in the amateur sport. Rising costs of putting on fixtures, competition from Rules racing and the expense of participating are leading to a dwindling sport in many parts of the country. The central subsidy that it receives is paltry compared with Ireland, and, while there is plenty of enthusiasm among the participants and no shortage of innovation in creating attractive races, if we aren’t careful the sport could wither on the vine.

Every individual and organisation that has an interest in the prosperity of Jump racing should take this on board and make the most of every opportunity to support racing between the flags; it’s really important, and apart from anything else, I promise you will have a lot of fun.