Gonna whine some here! Holy Cow…I just got a local hunts’ race meet info brochure and the general admission price has gone up…again! Yikes! It’s getting soooo expensive to go anymore. We are very lucky to have so many hunts put on point to point races meets in Virginia but attendance has tanked over the past few years and STILL the hunts are raising their gate prices!! The one I got today is $25/car which includes the driver. Each additional occupant is $10!! Another is $20/car which includes 2 occupants and $5/person after that. The difference between the 2? Proximity to a larger town.
I don’t begrudge the hunts fundraising efforts but with the economy as it is and the fewer horses coming; this is no time to UP your prices IMHO!! Someone like me would like to go to one every weekend during the season but at these prices; it ain’t gonna happen. And I haven’t even mentioned the gate prices for sanctioned meets locally. The pt2pts are getting too expensive for the regular attendee I think. Just my 2 sense!
Honestly, with as short as the fields have been in the last couple years, they should just let in whomever actually wants to come watch. I get that it is supposed to be a fundraiser, but when you have multiple walk-overs on many meets cards, why would people even want to come?
[QUOTE=rustbreeches;7436715]
Honestly, with as short as the fields have been in the last couple years, they should just let in whomever actually wants to come watch. I get that it is supposed to be a fundraiser, but when you have multiple walk-overs on many meets cards, why would people even want to come?[/QUOTE]
Well, it is still a social occasion, and an opportunity to see people from other hunts that you haven’t seen in a year. Heck, at PFH, most people seem to be there to tailgate & socialize, not to actually watch the races…
Any chance you could get a break by volunteering? We give a lot of perks to our wonderful volunteers. Maybe by helping out and giving back they’ll scratch your back too a little? As the volunteer coordinator for a large facility that hosts large events and two paces, I know how many volunteers are really needed and how appreciated they are.
Just tossing out ideas.
I’m looking at the invitation for one local point to point.
25$ for a car with three people.
That amounts to $8.33 per person, for a lovely and festive day in the country watching live racing. Surrounded by people from your own community.
Provided for the spectator, for free, by a large cadre of dedicated volunteers.
Those volunteers not only spent weeks setting up the course and parking spaces, won’t get to enjoy the day. They’ll spend it working the races; guiding spectators to parking spaces, out riding, and then when the races are over - they’ll spend evenings and weekends cleaning the course up and restoring it. All that volunteer work keeps costs down.
I dunno. $8.33 is a lot cheaper than a movie ticket. Even for a bad movie. $8.33 isn’t even the cost of an entree at one of the local restaurants.
I have a good time at the races. I get some friends together, throw a cheap picnic lunch in my old car, make sure hubby takes his allergy meds - and head out for a fun day. A day at the races, with a car full of people, is cheaper than a meal out at a restaurant. And it’s more fun!
Events cost money to put on. I can think of one well attended event (not a race) that actually runs at a loss each year. The organizer is more concerned about people having a good time than making a profit. I guess folks will complain about the cost of that event too.
I don’t feel gouged. Horse shows cost money to enter too - a day at the races is still cheaper than attending a local schooling show. A lot cheaper.
They actually have horse races at those parties? <j/k> What’s wrong with just dividing the cost of car/driver & passengers between the number of people in the car? Assuming the OP had 4 people in the car, the cost per person is $13.75. Really that’s not a lot. If OP is providing the entire tailgate, the GUESTS should pay the cost of everyone’s admission (in this case $55.00) and just bring a bottle of wine. If everyone is contributing to the food, then everyone kicks in the $13.75.
$25? Yet, you complain? How much does it cost in insurance alone to run the races? Fuel for mowing? Materials to set the course? Judges? Etc.?
Without the point-to-points, where would the season of foxhunting be? It’s the simple things that can really help, like paying your dues on time and volunteering your time (and not expecting anything in return).
Ask not what your Hunt can do for you, but ask what you can do for your Hunt.
That amount seems quite reasonable. I wish we had things like that here…gosh i would sure find a way to scrounge up eight dollars a peep.
I’d give my eyeteeth to have point to points here locally for that price. That’s the same price as one dog in one class at a dog show, where you get 2 minutes (if you’re lucky) to show your dog to the judge.
I’d be packing the van, inviting folks, making a picnic spread, and having a great day at the field.
Good to see that everyone but the OP feels that the price of admission is good value!
As to short fields at times there are a couple of reasons.
The majority of the VA P-Ps are in March the weather and footing can be tricky for those of us who train for the spring Jump races. Not worth the risk of loosing a horse to a minor set back. P-Ps are used to “school” and ascertain what we have going into spring season but we have to pick our spots carefully.
The majority of the March P-Ps are more oriented towards “hunt horses” then the ones I and others train for the spring sanctioned jump races. Which is fine and what they were always meant to be. In years past pretty much regardless of weather and footing they had good fields. But I guess people were more “sporting” and enjoyed the rivalry between hunts in years past.
I could put it another way but don’t want to offend anyone.
Seems to me Eventers should take more advantage of these meets.
From a trainers perspective especially those of us who are based in MD and PA the ones that provide the “entertainment” long trip, long day, travel expenses, entry fees, etc. Which is fine just wish they gave out much nicer “hardware” to the winners. Not that I ever win many. I have some trophies that my grandparents won in the “teens” and 20s that are fabulous.
Even though I join every year and should know I think members of the VA P-P Association get a discount. I am never charged whether I have horse running or not. Know just about everyone and I figure they figure that those of us who are crazy enough to own, train, work with jumpers are paying enough.
IMO anyone who lives in VA or there abouts should show support for the VA P-P As and join. The people who run it work their butts off, fund raising, organizing, countless hours etc.
OP if you join the NSA (National Steeplechase Association) at basic membership you get general admission parking and free admission with your badge at all Sanctioned meets for the year.
There is little to no money to be won owning and or training Jump horses. Especially compared to flat horses. But the Jump meet organizers Sanctioned and P-Ps do an outstanding job of looking after all of the connections, owners, trainers, riders, grooms, friends of all of these. Great food, refreshments and camaraderie.
At the flat tracks it seems you’re just another smuck unless it’s a stake horse.
One of the great things about owning a Steeplechase horse win, loose or draw is a lot people know you and the horse even if you finish last. No one at the flat track knows or even acknowledges the horse and owner of the 3rd race.
With a Steeplechase horses people respect and enjoy talking to the connections just for doing it. And generally know the name of the horse, win, loose or draw.
[QUOTE=Kryswyn;7438076]
They actually have horse races at those parties? <j/k> What’s wrong with just dividing the cost of car/driver & passengers between the number of people in the car? Assuming the OP had 4 people in the car, the cost per person is $13.75. Really that’s not a lot. If OP is providing the entire tailgate, the GUESTS should pay the cost of everyone’s admission (in this case $55.00) and just bring a bottle of wine. If everyone is contributing to the food, then everyone kicks in the $13.75.[/QUOTE]
“They actually have horse races at those parties?”
Thanks for the chuckle.
Last year I only had a horse or 2 to run this year sadly maybe none for the spring season. But having pretty much always had a horse running or something horse related at the races for a number of years. It was really great to go to the races and just party with friends work the tail gates, no worries. If I missed a race no big deal.
[QUOTE=gumtree;7438725]
The majority of the March P-Ps are more oriented towards “hunt horses” then the ones I and others train for the spring sanctioned jump races. Which is fine and what they were always meant to be. In years past pretty much regardless of weather and footing they had good fields. But I guess people were more “sporting” and enjoyed the rivalry between hunts in years past.
I could put it another way but don’t want to offend anyone.
Seems to me Eventers should take more advantage of these meets.[/QUOTE]
I think a major reason for that is fewer people are hunting full TBs these days, so they don’t have a horse that qualifies. If some of the races were open to all breeds, I think there would be more entries…Certainly many of the 3/4- or 7/8-bred horses can keep up with the full TBs pretty well, even if they would not beat them! Alternatively, you have far more “weekend warrior” hunters now, who are in no way prepared to do a race when they barely get a chance to ride except on the weekend during the winter.
Now, if we could just do a “Diana’s of the Chase” race here, I would be all OVER that! 
[QUOTE=wateryglen;7436309]
Gonna whine some here! Holy Cow…I just got a local hunts’ race meet info brochure and the general admission price has gone up…again! Yikes! It’s getting soooo expensive to go anymore. We are very lucky to have so many hunts put on point to point races meets in Virginia but attendance has tanked over the past few years and STILL the hunts are raising their gate prices!! The one I got today is $25/car which includes the driver. Each additional occupant is $10!! Another is $20/car which includes 2 occupants and $5/person after that. The difference between the 2? Proximity to a larger town.
I don’t begrudge the hunts fundraising efforts but with the economy as it is and the fewer horses coming; this is no time to UP your prices IMHO!! Someone like me would like to go to one every weekend during the season but at these prices; it ain’t gonna happen. And I haven’t even mentioned the gate prices for sanctioned meets locally. The pt2pts are getting too expensive for the regular attendee I think. Just my 2 sense![/QUOTE]
sounds pretty damn reasonable to me.
Quit whining.
Otherwise, pretty soon there will be no hunts and few horses.
It’s too bad that so many Point to Points have been lost in recent years - Rappahannock, Casanova, Bull Run and Fairfax. It takes a lot of work to put on a point-to-point and it is expensive. I was with one of the hunts who finally stopped doing it. The little bit of money made did not justify the expense and efforts, and if it rained you last everything. The hunts have found the hunter paces are where the money can be made. A hunter pace course does not really cost much to do.
Trust me; I am well aware of the work hunts put into ptp’s! I’ve been volunteering for over 30 yrs with as many as 4 hunt meets per season. Pretty sure I’ve more volunteer hours/work in than most of ya’ll!! BUT!! I shoulda separated the issue from attending the races as tailgates or going as a group in a car. I was strictly thinking about going alone…every weekend…all season. There’s a LOT of us that have to go alone or prefer to and I thought the prices are prohibitive for the single attendee. We don’t have a tailgate maybe. How about the local person just drivig by and wants to look what’s goin’ on? Not everyone knows everyone or has a party to camp at. THOSE folks are not payinng $8./person. They are paying $25 plus gas etc. We NEED/WANT those “singles” to be welcome/come/support our race meets don’t we?
Aaahhh…maybe it’s all this danged snow/winter that’s making me grumpy! Remember, not all foxhunters/potential race attendees are rich! Of course I personally LOVE to go and always will. But having seen the rapid escalation of prices…just seems to be defeating the more open prices the races used to have. And I think the attendances & decreased meets bears that out. And I also know that most hunts don’t make their biggest $$ from the gate…but from adds, parking spaces, vendors, sponsors etc. /again I don’t begrudge our hunts their badly needed funds…but would decreasing the gate costs by say 5 bucks rather than increasing it really makes that big a difference? I dunno.
Oh and also trust me that I’m grumpy about hunt dues increases, caps, horse expenses, kennels expenses…everything is going up…gas!! Gas!!! It’s the economy in general. Bah Humbug!
Whine over! Going back into my igloo!!
[QUOTE=wateryglen;7439449]
Trust me; I am well aware of the work hunts put into ptp’s! I’ve been volunteering for over 30 yrs with as many as 4 hunt meets per season. Pretty sure I’ve more volunteer hours/work in than most of ya’ll!! BUT!! I shoulda separated the issue from attending the races as tailgates or going as a group in a car. I was strictly thinking about going alone…every weekend…all season. There’s a LOT of us that have to go alone or prefer to and I thought the prices are prohibitive for the single attendee. We don’t have a tailgate maybe. How about the local person just drivig by and wants to look what’s goin’ on? Not everyone knows everyone or has a party to camp at. THOSE folks are not payinng $8./person. They are paying $25 plus gas etc. We NEED/WANT those “singles” to be welcome/come/support our race meets don’t we?
Aaahhh…maybe it’s all this danged snow/winter that’s making me grumpy! Remember, not all foxhunters/potential race attendees are rich! Of course I personally LOVE to go and always will. But having seen the rapid escalation of prices…just seems to be defeating the more open prices the races used to have. And I think the attendances & decreased meets bears that out. And I also know that most hunts don’t make their biggest $$ from the gate…but from adds, parking spaces, vendors, sponsors etc. /again I don’t begrudge our hunts their badly needed funds…but would decreasing the gate costs by say 5 bucks rather than increasing it really makes that big a difference? I dunno.
Oh and also trust me that I’m grumpy about hunt dues increases, caps, horse expenses, kennels expenses…everything is going up…gas!! Gas!!! It’s the economy in general. Bah Humbug!
Whine over! Going back into my igloo!![/QUOTE]
I’m not buying this line of defense. You are LOCAL. One would assume you have local horse friends you’d be going with, meeting up with- stop at the coffee shop and pile in together in one vehicle.
If you’d really put in all of those volunteer hours like you claim you have, you’d know how petty you sound. It takes a ton of work - free labor, by volunteers- to put on something like this. To put on anything. So you’d agree to HELP and then you’d be there, all season, for free. But that sounds too much like contributing.
I’m sorry, but you sound like you just want to have your cake and eat it, too. Or maybe just roll in and bum some cake off somebody’s tailgate, since I sincerely doubt you’re bringing a darn thing to the party, except an open hand.
it’s a HORSE sport, for heavens’ sake. Only the manure is free.
[QUOTE=wateryglen;7439449]
again I don’t begrudge our hunts their badly needed funds…but would decreasing the gate costs by say 5 bucks rather than increasing it really makes that big a difference? [/QUOTE]
It would make $5 difference per car or per person or however the hunt is charging. Not too hard to figure out.
If you think the prices are too high, then vote with your pocketbook and don’t go.
I don’t know of any horse-related activities that have gotten cheaper. I just figure out a budget, do the things I really want to do and skip the rest.
Not that hard. Really.
Yup. I’d reckon if you volunteered at this event, you’d be in for free and maybe fed a lunch, too. But, gee, that involves WORK. If you can’t afford it, don’t go.
I’m not buying the whine, and I don’t care how cold/snowy/miserable it is. Everybody’s suffering through it, not just widdle you, OP.
Gosh, you guys are a tough group! Maybe the snow has made EVERYONE grumpy.
OP - I see your point. If you are meeting friends there because you can’t leave at 11am when they all are carpooling because you have to clean stalls because you’re not a rich lady who has someone to clean stalls - or you have to leave early to feed your own horses - then yes, you may have to drive separately and I totally feel you that there are plenty of weeks that I just can’t spend another $25.
But tradition says: make more money or go home :lol:
[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;7438754]
I think a major reason for that is fewer people are hunting full TBs these days, so they don’t have a horse that qualifies. If some of the races were open to all breeds, I think there would be more entries…Certainly many of the 3/4- or 7/8-bred horses can keep up with the full TBs pretty well, even if they would not beat them! Alternatively, you have far more “weekend warrior” hunters now, who are in no way prepared to do a race when they barely get a chance to ride except on the weekend during the winter.
Now, if we could just do a “Diana’s of the Chase” race here, I would be all OVER that! ;)[/QUOTE]
I hear what you are saying though the majority of people that I know and hunt with would never think of hunting a none TB. Haven’t been able to get out much in the last 2 years but here, Cheshire and my hometown hunts in MD, Elkridge and Green Spring it still looks like the majority of horses are TBs. When I lived in Middleburg in the early 80’s it was mostly TBs. Times and things change no big deal to each their own.
A quick look at the condition VA P-P condition book http://www.centralentryoffice.com/conditionBook.aspx?MeetState=VA
There seems to be plenty of races where the only condition is the horse was hunted X amount of times during the current season. Races with gender restriction. Yes, there are races like the hurdle races that are written for horses that are trained exclusively for sanctioned races later in the spring and would be restricted to TBs. Don’t think many people regardless of breed would want to hunt a horse that “hurdles” anyway.
The condition book nor the rules of racing specifically addresses “breed restriction” other then to say “the races are run under NSA rules where applicable”. I would have no problem with any breed of horse that is acceptable to the race committee be allowed to run in the majority of the Timber races. If the rider and horse are game so am I. The more the merrier. I hate running or riding a horse in short fields. No sport to it. I would rather loose to many then win against 1 or 2 others.
This is a good point and I will send an email to the “powers that be” that they should address this more clearly so those of interest won’t feel they can’t participate because of their horse’s breed.
The rules of P-Ps are pretty loose. “House rules” prevail and can be changed, modified right up until the time they call horses to the paddock. I have been to many P-Ps when the fields have come up short there have been a number of “write ins” added to the program the day of the races. So I strongly encourage those who have interest to give the race committee a call and ask. The phone numbers are given in the condition books.
I would like to see races written that are “restricted” to say “Hunters” show type not fox and Eventers. Races between the 2. I know a lot you guys may have your reservations about the horse getting hurt but that rarely happens.
I strongly encourage those that Hunt, Event, ride Jumpers, and especially Hunters because how you look on the horse isn’t taken into account to have a go. Also there is no subjective judging. The first rider and horse to cross the finish line with out going “out of bounds” wins. It’s a blast. You get to make up and wear your own “colors” a be a “jockey for a day”. Granted not just anybody will be allowed to enter that would be kind of dangerous but if you are competent, both rider and horse and present yourself and the horse to the race committees they will go out of their way to give you guidance.
On behalf of the Steeplechase community I sincerely thank all of you who come out to the races. Especially those who are like the postmen, wind, rain or snow.
If any of you are fans of the “old guy” you know the one that sucks. I hope to be back in the saddle this fall. I only have 2 years left before they pull my license. But I can still ride P-Ps after that.
“Diana’s of the Chase” race? Educate me
