The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Let the racing begin: Popular Balcormo event on the horizon
Prominent Fife fixture to take place on April 28
One of the oldest and most popular fixtures in the Fife equestrian calendar is the Fife Point-to-Point, now better known as Balcormo Races, which takes place on Saturday April 28.
Started in 1892 at Bruntshiels Farm near Ceres, landowners and members of the Fife hunt took to the field enthusiastically, but perhaps not with quite the same skill as the jockeys of today.
The very first race was won by a hatless Sir Ralph Anstruther from Balcaskie, who came first by default as all the other riders took the wrong course.
In 1924 the event moved to its present home of Balcormo Mains on the Montrave Estate of Sir John Gilmour.
The course of some three and a half miles on any terrain comprised 16 hedges, three post and rail fences and two ditches.
Today it runs over three miles on good turf with 19 purpose-built, portable steeplechase fences.
This year Balcormo Races will host the prestigious Northern Area Feature race with prize money of £1,500.
This is a mixed open race, therefore open to both gentlemen and lady riders and it is the first time it has come to the most northerly point-to-point fixture in the calendar.
Although this is likely to be the highlight of the afternoon’s six races, there will be plenty more sport taking place.
As well as maiden and restricted races, an intermediate race has been introduced this year and three pony races kick off the afternoon at 1pm.
With crowds expected to be around the 3,000 mark, Balcormo Races has always been a popular spectator event, although nowadays visitors are unlikely to emulate the late Sir Jimmy Gulliver, who enjoyed a full luncheon with his
Wehavea total pot of £3,250 prize money this year and for the third year running Bruce Farms have rolled up their bonus to £3,000
friends waited on by his butler, chauffeur and a couple of footmen.
This year there will be food outlets, a country fair marquee and a funfair for the children. It takes more than 100 volunteers for the racing to take place and enjoys loyal support from sponsors.
Secretary Fiona Drysdale said: “We have a total pot of £3,250 prize money this year and for the third year running Bruce Farms have rolled up their bonus to £3,000.
“This is on offer to any runner at Balcormo who then goes on to win the Bruce Farms Hunter Chase at Perth in May.”