30/04/2026
South Hill races near Dulverton are this Sunday 3rd May. A great day out for all the family. Horse racing began when hunting folk started to race their horses against each other and often that was from Church Steeple in one village to the Church Steeple in the next hence the name steeple chasing. The amateur point to point racing is organised by the hunts with their supporters running the day as volunteers. If people had to be paid then the races would not be viable and that is why if hunting is banned then point to pointing with go as well. It would be a disaster if that happened as these races are part of the culture of rural Exmoor and also much of rural Britain. They are great fun and provide a tranning ground for young horses and jockeys on their way to National Hunt racing and are also a place for older national hunt horses to finish their racing days. Racing employs thousands of people and is a multi million pound industry yet the looney left are still trying to get it banned. The best way to stop that is to go along and support.
Many of us Exmoor folk were thrown on a pony as a young child and sent off hunting. We learned to ride well following hounds over the rugged Exmoor terrain and develop a good seat ( although not always pretty ) and gained a deep understanding of horses and there is nothing else that I know of that teaches you that well. I think this is why Ireland is so strong in racing with numerous top quality horses, jockeys, trainners ,grooms etc many whom have no doubt developed their skills in the hunting field.
Photos included are of South Hill in previous years plus one of Holnicote in ancient times, the first year on the new course and only time they went anticlockwise which was just as well as my horse only went that way. He hunted at least once a week every week all day, often hacking home with Master Sid and Margaret driving behind with the lights on so we could see where we were going. That got him very fit and toughened him up. Hunting helps make good horses. After one huge leap over a large fence in the members race we went so far left handed we ended up in the infield turnips but hung on to recover several lengths and get second. Them were the days.
