Horses vault the stone wall at last year’s Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point.
When the warm breezes of spring waft their way into Chester County, the local fox hunting horses and folks who love them sniff the air and know it’s time for the annual point-to-point races.
The 2019 Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point — scheduled for Sunday, April 7 — is one of the early ones. It offers a wide variety of activities at the Myrick Center in Pocopson Township including a generous number of child-friendly events and refreshments are available for purchase.
This is the oldest point-to-point in the Delaware Valley, and its proceeds benefit the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance environmental education and watershed conservation programs.
The gates open at 11 a.m. on Route 842 with preferred parking ($50) near the finish line and general admission parking for ($20) per car.
Beginning at noon, there are six adult races over a beautiful 318-acre property that looks out over the stunning scenery of rural southern Chester County. The horses and riders vault as many as 17 jumps on the course.
Additionally, competition for young riders is plentiful as well with races ranging from three sizes of pony races to stick pony races for kids as young as 3. Included in these youth races are the riders from Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park “Work to Ride” program.
Visitors are also invited to purchase $10 raffle tickets for chances on prizes that range from artwork and restaurant meals to tickets for other horse events including Devon Horse Show box seats.
The Brandywine Hills Point to Point races are sponsored by the Radnor Hunt, and with that sponsorship comes a parade by the club’s foxhounds shortly after 1 p.m. Amid the excitement and competition of the riders vying for the victory cups, a break in the action occurs and the pack of adorable hounds bounds in to please the guests.
The sponsors of the Brandywine Hills Point to Point are Bartlett Tree Experts, Capital & Security Management Inc., James A. Cochrane Inc.-Realtor, Stephen J. Devine-Esquire, J. Clifton Edgar, Mrs. Roy Feldman in memory of Dr. Roy S. Feldman, J. Gallagher Septic and Wastewater Control Inc., Helen Groves, Sally Hagele & Hank Lloyd, The Herr Family, Michael & Anne Moran, Rodman W. Moorhead III, Jim & Diana Perella, R. Phillips Service LLC, Radnor Hunt, Dr. & Mrs. Donald J. Rosato, Mr. & Mrs. John Swayne, Sycamore Racing, Margot Mohr Teeter-Remax, Carol Elizabeth Ware, Mr. & Mrs. Gary Warzecha and The Whip Tavern.
