NEXT Saturday’s local point-to-point is the Tynan and Armagh meeting at Farmacaffley where, in 1993, there were eight races, none with less than 12 runners.

Paddy Graffin bookended the fixture by winning the opening hunt race on Bajan Blues, the ultra-consistent Abednego mare owned by the late Dr Fitz Gillespie, and division two of the concluding seven-year-old and upwards maiden.

Doubles were also recorded by John Bright and Enda Bolger while there were single wins for Tom Costello and Tony Martin.

There was just one divide on Saturday, February 22nd 2003, when Brian Hamilton won the first half of the mares’ maiden while Robert Patton claimed the second.

Only five lined up for the open which was won by Tommy Peoples on Bluefire who was trained by David Christie for Enniskillen College.

Peoples had been beaten a neck on Dr Gillespie’s Eglish in the 12-runner hunt race by the Gordon Elliott-partnered The Faloorie Man, Rory Lavery claimed the 18-strong five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden, Willie Rankin landed the 16-runner winners of two while Robert Widger’s journey north paid off when he won the concluding seven and eight-year-old geldings’ maiden in which there were 17 starters.

Crawford double

Eight races were staged on the afternoon of Saturday, February 23rd, 2013. Ben Crawford recorded the only double, landing division two of the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden on the Neil McKnight-trained One Cool Clarkson and the second division of the mares’ maiden on Hidden Horizons who was trained by his brother Stuart.

One of three winners on the card by Winged Love, Colm McDonnell’s Hidden Horizons has gone on to produce a winner of her own, the four-time scorer Neon Moon who was entered to run today at Ascot. The first division of that Tynan and Armagh mares’ maiden was won by the Armstrong family’s Lily Waugh, a King’s Theatre half-sister to Killultagh Vic (by Old Vic), who was to go on and win six races on the track herself.

Lily Waugh was ridden at Farmacaffley that day by Noel McParlan while the other winning riders were Rhonda Armstrong, William Thompson, Annie Bowles, Kevin O’Hare and Jamie Codd.

This column’s interest mainly lies in the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association racehorse to riding horse class which is scheduled to take place at 5.45pm in the Main Arena on Thursday, May 11th. The judges have yet to be confirmed.

The class, for four-year-olds and upwards to be partnered by riders aged 16 and over, is open to Irish-bred horses or foreign-bred horses that have been trained in Ireland for a minimum of one year.

The number of entries will be restricted to 15 (inclusive of three invitations); should more than 15 entries be received, horses will be selected (exclusive of the three invitations) based on their highest official earnings.

Judging

Last May, this class was judged by Ireland’s multiple champion National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins (conformation), and the former four-time British champion National Hunt jockey, Richard Johnson (ride).

Their winner was the 2017 Mahler gelding Easy Pleased who was ridden by 16-year-old Felicity McConnell for her mother Jayne. The bay had unseated his rider on his only point-to-point start the previous November when owned and trained by Warren Ewing.

McConnell and Easy Pleased have been taking part in the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi-event series at The Meadows in recent weeks.

Entries for the livestock and equine classes at Balmoral close at 5pm on Wednesday, March 15th. Full details can be found on the show’s website.

THERE is plenty for owners and riders of former racehorses to look forward to in the coming months as it was announced this week that the Irish Shows Association and Tullow Show are running an All-Ireland open racehorse to riding horse championship in 2023.

Twenty-one shows throughout the island will be staging a qualifier for the final at Tullow held on Sunday, August 20th.

In preparation for the dressage, eventing, showing and show jumping seasons, Treo Eile – the not-for-profit organisation promoting the use of thoroughbreds in other equestrian disciplines – is running four retraining clinics sponsored by Randox Health. Local riders won’t have to travel too far for the first of these on Monday, March 13th at The Meadows Equestrian Centre outside Lurgan where Joanne Jarden will be the coach for a show jumping clinic.

Further details will soon be published on Treo Eile’s Facebook page and also on its website where you can register your horse for free.