Flagg Races

The History of Flagg Races

Flagg races is a rare event that reflects the early days of horse racing when riders rode from one point to another with no defined course. Traditional point-to-point could have disappeared altogether when Flagg was a casualty of the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreaks, but thankfully it returned in 2004 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The first point-to-point races were held on Flagg Moor in 1892 and apart from the war years and 2001 to 2003, the point-to-point has been held there on Easter Tuesday ever since. For many spectators, the real attraction at Flagg is the unique Hunt Members' race over natural hunting country, starting in open country between the villages of Flagg and Pomeroy and finishing on the racecourse proper. In the mid-1980's there were about 10 such 'old-fashioned' point-to-point races in existence but Flagg is now the only one in the country.

Come pointing and spot the stars of the future!

Gunner Welburn won the PPORA Club Members Race at Flagg in 1999, recording the fastest time of the day. He ran in 4 point-to-points that year, being placed 2nd on his first outing in February and winning his 3 subsequent point-to-points, rounding these off with a Hunter Chase win at Cheltenham, 3 weeks after racing at Flagg Moor. Gunner Welburn’s impressive National Hunt racing career now includes a fourth in the 2003 Martell Grand National, a win in the Martell Fox Hunters at Aintree in 2001 and a close second in both the Martell Foxhunters and the Christie Fox Hunters at Cheltenham in 2002. He has followed these up with many wins and placings, including one the favourite amateur races, the Royal Artillery Gold Cup Chase at Sandown in February 2004. His National Hunt career now shows over 12 wins and almost £170,000 in prize money. This evergreen horse has provided all pointing and National Hunt racing fans with lots of pleasure.

2006 saw the Members' Race won, for the second year running, by The Tallet – a horse formerly in training with the famous Ginger McCain.  Ginger still enjoys a day out at Flagg Moor spotting promising young racehorses for his son Donald to train.

The Croxden Cup

One piece of Flagg history saw the Croxden Cup, the trophy presented to the winner of the Maiden Race, disappear after it was won in 1975.  Years later the cup was unearthed by a demolition company’s excavator and after some renovation, has been returned to the Flagg Races suite of prizes. We would be pleased to hear from anyone with any knowledge of its whereabouts in the intervening years.  Please contact our secretary on secretary@flaggraces.co.uk.  In 2007 this cup will be presented to the most senior member to pass the winning post in the Hunt Members' race.

See previous race results >>

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