1946 SEASON

And the resumption of hunt racing!

Although pointing resumed in 1946 it was a very truncated season and came too soon for some hunts to get organised probably due to rationing and the lack of availability of courses some of which would probably have been ploughed. - (courtesy of Stewart Nash)

91 point-to-point meetings and 6 'Bone Fide' meetings (see below) took place in the country. The national season opened at Cottenham on February 23rd. Ironically the Easton Harriers were one of of two meetings that drew the season to a close on May 2nd.

A lot of the rules were much the same as applies today - minimum three miles, horses running under rules, appointment of stewards etc.

Entry fee was £2 - the maximum winners prize money was £20 - course inspectors were introduced - entries closed a week before the meeting.

Adjacents races (nowadays the Confined) were limited to the hosts and FIVE adjacent hunts - FOURTEEN now allowed.

Of note - to get your certificate to race your horse you were required to do 10 days hunting of at least three hours each day. It will be interesting to knoWilf How many of this years pointers (2005) would have got their ticket back in those days - there will almost certainly be a handful. (Site editor gives self pat on back as the last pointer he qualifed (in the late 90's) would have passed this requirement)

Interesting to note that in 1946 no fewer than eight pony races took place acros the country. The difference between the pony racing then and the pony racing now is that the ponies ran the full trip as well as jumping the fences (bring it back! - that will bring in a few more early arrivers to watch the pony racing!!!). Ironically all of them took place in the South West. Intriguingly it was commented about the fact that some courses had rather softer or smaller fences than others - especially in the South West area. Presumably back in the 40's there weren't that many rocket scientists about to draw a conclusion on this one!

(Bona Fide Hunt Meetings. These were a hybrid type of meeting authorised by the National Hunt Committee which permitted hunts to organise a meetings on the basis of maximum win prize money of £20 per race but unlike point to points a charge could be made for admission on a per head basis rather than charging for parking. Bona Fide Meetings were abolished in 1948. (- courtesy of Stewart Nash)). N.b. In 1946 it would appear that none of the South East meetings ran under this specification.

Leading horses and riders of 1946

Thank you to Jean Campbell for access to the results

1945

1947

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