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It is quite a transition from the luxury of a London club just off Oxford Street to weather-beaten fields in Gloucestershire and Northumberland.
That is the journey being undertaken by Britain’s newest national sponsor this weekend when making its debut at Didmarton and Alnwick. Not only is the Oriental Club criss-crossing England it is backing the innovative new owner-trainer series which has been designed to give further opportunities to those at the grassroots of point-to-pointing – the races are restricted to owners with five or fewer point-to-pointers. An excellent 27 entries have been taken for the Club’s race at Didmarton (3.00) on Saturday, while another 16 entries have been drawn at Alnwick (1.30) on Sunday.
Charlie Dando expects to ride his Brass In Pocket, trained by his partner, Brooke Gardener-Wollen, at Didmarton. Dando says: “I think this new series is a brilliant idea because it gives little trainers like us another chance to win a race. I don’t know much about the Oriental Club, but we will be going along to meet them on Saturday, and we will certainly consider running in the final of the series.”
Charlie Dando, who is set to ride his Brass In Pocket at Didmarton on Saturday
Tony Hogarth, who runs Molten Brown at Alnwick, says: “I love the idea behind the series. Dare I say it, but it becomes a bit boring when big yards win all the races, and I like the way this series harks back to a time when families, and often farming families, owned and raced horses. We are staging an Oriental Club race here at Mosshouses on April 19. I’m delighted Alnwick’s race has attracted a good entry.”
Tony Hogarth, who could run Molten Brown in the Oriental Club owner-trainer race at Alnwick
Matthew Rivett, secretary to the Oriental Club and a foot follower of the Mid Surrey Farmers’ Drag Hunt, says its members have a long tradition of racing involvement, often as racehorse owners. Rivett says: “Involvement in point-to-pointing is a way to rejuvenate interest in racing at grass roots level as well as to provide an opportunity for members to meet near their homes, to raise awareness of the Club and to support point-to-pointing and the countryside.
“The Club has a diverse and international membership, and more than two thirds of members live more than 100 miles from central London. Many are already enthusiastic about their local point-to-points.”
In essence it was ‘owner-trainer-riders’ in the guise of hunting folk who lay the foundations for pointing when racing each other from one point to another during the 19th Century, and it is likely that match races between these hunting thrusters were taking place in 1824 at the time of the Oriental Club’s creation. It was founded by officers and officials who had fought, travelled or traded in India and the East as a London meeting point, but today it is just a fabulous place to dine, stay, attend social events or wile away a few hours while in Britain’s capital city.
The Oriental Club is not completely new to point-to-point sponsorship for it dipped its toe last season in the South East, becoming an instant hit when running a complementary bar for all owners, trainers and riders. Area secretary Nicky Featherstone says: “The atmosphere was great, with everyone coming in to enjoy the hospitality and staying on after racing to chat.”
Very soon the Oriental Club was gaining ‘brand awareness’. Rivett says: “The Club wanted a way to provide members who attend point-to-points with a good level of hospitality and did not want to impose on the organising hunts or to have its own, perhaps sterile, ‘corporate’ area. This coincided with a push to offer outside catering services to members in their own homes. With help from former rider and trainer James Etheridge and Caroline Holliday, secretary of the Mid Surrey Farmers’ meeting, the format seemed to take off. There was a tremendous amount of positive feedback.”
That association with the South East is continuing with the Club’s new wider brief. Last weekend’s meeting at Godstone was set to kick off the series until it was abandoned due to waterlogging, while the series’ final – open to any horse which competes in an owner-trainer race this season – will also be held at Godstone (May 3).
A list of all Oriental Club-sponsored owner-trainer races can be found here and on page 42 of the Planner.
www.orientalclub.org.uk
