Racing In The Cotswolds Since 1903
The course opened in 1997 thanks to the generosity of hunt stalwart Geoff Adams, and now continues by kind permission of Brian Lewis and family. It provides an excellent day’s entertainment for the whole family, with great views of the race course, betting facilities, and picnic spaces. There are lots more entertainment too with Shetland Ppny racing, a dog show, hound displays, trade stands, bars, food stalls, hospitality and children’s amusements.
Runners start with their back to the stream and jump one fence before taking a right-handed turn into the home straight where they jump fence two. They race past the winning post to meet fence three before turning right-handed, slightly downhill and then the course flattens and runners meet fences four, five and six. They disappear momentarily behind the rhubarb sheds before turning right-handed towards fences seven and eight. Immediately after fence eight they race briefly slightly right-handed before straightening up and racing past the start to negotiate fence nine. There is a short run to the last fence from the final bend, so it is crucial to get the inside line between penultimate and last fences.
The 1st Horse Race is at 1PM but if you get there nice and early you can see the Shetland Pony race at 12pm. This year's ponies and jockeys entries will appear nearer to the event. Watch out for a lot of activity on social media from the youngsters.
To whet your appetite here are some great video's taken at past Paxford Races:
Easter Point-to-Points have their own unique atmosphere and if the weather is favourable the sports regular supporters are joined by a throng of once-a-year attendees who combine to make the Paxford Races one of the best attended meetings in the country.
The North Cotswold held their first Point-to-Point in 1903 at Aston Hill, Aston Somerville, and had a number of homes in subsequent years at Gorse Hill, Broadway, Saintbury, Washbourne, Buckland Fields and Dumbleton before moving to Springhill where they stayed for the next 64 years. The meeting spent a couple of years at Andoversford as the new course was being developed before finally opening in 1997, so it celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2022.
That is testimony to the foresight of Geoff Adams and for the time and effort which went into the course’s creation. It was no easy transformation with the land at Bank Farm, dissected by the Knee Brook so that was one major obstacle to overcome. The farm buildings used to house sheep during the lambing season were temporarily adapted to provide covered changing facilities for jockeys and a weighing room area. Under expert guidance the course was sown with suitable grass seed and that has proved beneficial over the last quarter of a century, and the courses potential has certainly been maximised.
The previous course at Springhill survived the test of time, but it was compact with plenty of twists and turns. It was however extremely popular so Paxford needed room for expansion and to provide excellent viewing from all parts of the course.