Point to Point: The Heart of Irish Horse Racing

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Ireland is a small island, yet sustains 26 unique and bustling racecourses, demonstrating the sheer passion of the Irish for the sport of horse racing.

Furthermore, the Stewards of the INHSC have approved the shortening of the Spring season from 2022 onwards, in that the last day of the season will be no later than the last day in May rather than no later than the first Monday in June which it has traditionally been. Consequently, the Spring 2022 season will conclude on Sunday 29th May with the South Union (F) fixture at Kinsale, Co. Cork and the North Kerry (H) fixture at Tralee racecourse.Some of racing's most prestigious and valuable contests are staged in Ireland, including the Irish Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes. Irish National Hunt racing is among the most competitive and lucrative in the world, with races like the Irish Grand National and Punchestown Gold Cup each year offering unparalleled sporting spectacle. Ireland is also renowned for its world-class racing Festivals such as Galway and Punchestown, which attract crowds of over 100,000 people.

The sport of steeplechasing was established by hunting men who raced their hunters over natural open ground from one ‘point’ to another ‘point’, hence the name ‘Point-to-Point’. The first recorded race of this type was from Buttevant to Doneraile in 1752. The first official recognition of P2P races was in the National Hunt Rules of 1889. OrganisationMartin O’Donnell, Senior Steward of the INHSC, commented: “The Stewards of the INHSC look forward to a full programme of Point to Point fixtures being held in 2023 following the huge challenges and significant interruptions experienced in the previous three seasons. We are sad to note the loss of a number of traditional fixtures for a variety of reasons caused by the current challenges within the industry. We would like to welcome new Hunt Committees, Streamstown (H) and Lismore (H) who are staging Point to Point fixtures for the first time and wish them every success. Work has commenced on a provisional summary of races for all 73 fixtures, details of which will be issued once this process is completed.

Streamstown (H) are a new Hunt Committee to the fixture list this Spring with a fixture to be run on Sunday 19 thMarch at Durrow, Co. Offaly. The Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) have today announced the Point to Point fixture list for the Spring 2023 season, which contains 73 fixtures. The season will commence with the Duhallow (F) Kanturk Committee staging the opening fixture at Dromahane, Co. Cork on Friday 30 th December 2022 and will conclude with the final fixtures being held at Ormond (F) Ballingarry and Carbery (F) Clonakilty on Sunday 21 st May. The Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) have today released the fixture list for the Spring 2022 Point to Point season. Lismore (H) are a new Hunt Committee to the fixture list this Spring with a fixture to be run under Lismore (H) Dungarvan on Sunday 22 nd January at Kilossera, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. The Aintree Grand National has proved to be another profitable hunting ground for Irish P2P graduates, with winners including Monty's Pass (IRE), Bindaree (IRE), Silver Birch (IRE), and Minella Times (IRE). Other high-profile Irish P2P grads include Champagne Fever (IRE), Florida Pearl (IRE), First Lieutenant (IRE), and Shishkin (IRE).

In line with the Spring 2021 season, 78 fixtures have been scheduled with the opening fixture set to be hosted by the Duhallow (F) Kanturk Hunt Committee at Dromahane, Co. Cork on Thursday 30th December 2021. There are a number of notable changes within the fixture list for Spring 2023. Some of these changes include: