A BUMPER crowd is expected for the traditional Vine and Craven races at Hackwood Park.

This is now a fixture in the social and sporting calendar of Hampshire and racegoers will hope to take advantage of fine weather, enjoy a picnic as well as catching-up with friends, and make the most of the other entertainments that the organisers are offering.

Most importantly of all, however, is that the six point-to-point races, which kick-off at 1.30pm, have attracted a respectable entry of 62, so good fields look likely for most of the contests.

It is worth noting, however, that all the trainers I spoke to earlier today have made multiple entries for their horses this weekend and that plans are very much going dependent.

Clerk of the Course Bill Welling reported last week that the going was good, with a few good to soft patches, that the course has a good covering of grass and that all the bends have been altered since the last meeting, so racing will be on fresh unused ground.

The main meeting sponsor is At The Races, and the television channel also lends its name to the third race on the card the Mens Open, run over the shorter trip of two and a half miles for which 11 entries have been received.

The Jockey Club supports a series of Mares Maidens throughout the season, to give opportunities to the fairer sex (of the four-legged variety) and to promote point-to-point breeding. 12 have been entered for their event on this card, co-sponsored by JLF Ltd.

Races are normally sponsored by companies, but the opening Novice Riders contest is courtesy of an individual, Councillor Ken Rhatigan. His generosity has been rewarded with a small, but quality, entry of nine.

Ten have been entered for the J.M.Finn & Co Open Maiden and the largest entry of the day is 16, for the J. Passey & Son Conditions race.

The Whard Stewart Ladies – over the extended distance of three and a half miles – has only four entered Gates open at 10am and, as well as the six point-to-point races, the first of which starts at 1.30pm, there will be a number of other attractions.

There are pony scurry races, raising money for the Air Ambulance, from noon.

Four events to cater for all shapes and sizes of children and ponies and a hound parade, and organisers hope it will be a fun and sporting day out for the family, friends and competitors with a variety of food and trade Stands, a beer tent and a bouncy castles.

Entry is £30 or £40 per car, and tickets can be pre-booked online at a 10 per cent discount at hackwoodparkracecourse.co.uk There is also a special reserved car park at £50 per car (£45 in advance), which guarantees a reserved numbered space adjacent to the finishing straight plus a free racecard.

Hackwood Park is a left-handed course on a slope with a downhill back straight and an uphill finish. It is sharp, but by no means easy. The course has a mixture of permanent and portable fences and the top and bottom bends are now fully equipped with plastic rails.