HISTORY will be made at Bangor on Dee racecourse on Sunday when the Flint & Denbigh point-to-point meeting takes place.
The course, constructed for racing between the flags, is right handed and marks the first occasion in the 147-year history of the track that horses will race in this direction.
The finish in front of the public car park will add to the excitement and spectacle of the meeting.
Jockey Club representatives Ron Barry and Robin Greenway inspected the course and fences last week, which follows a circuit inside the existing racecourse, and agreed that the facilities meet the current point-to-point standards.
The venue has attracted a record entry of 235 runners, which is over double on the corresponding meeting last year.
To accommodate the large entry and to comply with the safety factor there will be three divisions of the Maiden race and the Restricted race has also been divided into two. Racing begins at noon to provide a full afternoon's entertainment, concluding at 5.10pm.
Admission is £20 per car, irrespective of the number of passengers.
Declarations to run are made 45 minutes before each race so actual runners are not available until that time.
Robert Lester of Nantwich, who has enjoyed a high level of success with his popular grey Iris's Gift, has a gelding by the same sire, Gunner B. Iris's Dream, who stands at 17.1hh, is due to run in Division Three of the Open Maiden and should benefit from his previous outing.
Donald McCain of Cholmondeley has placed his string of pointers to notch up victories throughout the region and has Cornish Rebel running in the Men's Open and The Eens in the Confined race.
Since transferring from racing under rules The Eens has been rejuvenated and may provide a rewarding punting opportunity.
Records of informal point-to-point races go back to 1836 when farmers raced their horses across country from steeple to steeple.
In 1913 the Master of Hounds Point-to-Point Association established a set of rules for the sport. Since 1935 there have been tighter controls and the introduction of course inspections as a fore-runner to modern-day requirements to ensure the welfare of horse, jockey and spectator.
Point-to-point racing led the way in the practice of dolling off fences back in 1990 to enable a fence to be omitted in the event of a prolonged incident at a fence. Prior to this practice a race would have been abandoned.
Current levels of prize money were established in the early 1990's and reflect the amateur nature of the sport. An Open race now attracts prize money of £250 and other races offer £175 to the winner and placed horses.
The introduction of Sunday fixtures have added to the popularity of point-to-point racing in recent years and provides and ideal opportunity for families and enthusiastic followers of the sport to enjoy a day out in the countryside.
