Pack up the family, dog and possibly some rain-proof clothing, as it's time for Point to Point. Here's our guide to the sport and family day out.

Pack your picnic and wellies and head to the track this weekend, for the start of the Point to Point season.

The season is for amateur horse racing held over fences at racecourses across the country, which gathers people from all walks of life together to enjoy a day out.

This weekend the racing will be at Charing, on the course at the foot of Charing Hill, where the South East Hunts Club will be in action on Sunday, February 18.

It's a chance to see some racing first hand at the course, just off the A20 and close to Ashford.

The first race starts at noon, with the last getting going at 2.45pm.

Entry is £12 per person, and you can bring your (well-behaved) dog. The bookmakers are usually near the paddock where the horses parade before their race, so you can check out the runners before deciding on your bet.

Bets can be placed on a horse to win or each-way (which means the horse will need to finish in the any of the positions being paid out on which can vary from top two to top four places.)

There may also be a bookmaker who will take bets on the runners without including the favourite and in this case you will be paid out if your horse wins or finishes second to the favourite. You’ll need to bring cash as there are unlikely to be facilities for card payments.

The going is currently good, so get going for the family day out.

TYPES OF RACES

Some point-to-point meetings include pony racing where children aged between nine and 15 can experience race riding on the flat. These usually happen before the main racing.

A hunt members’ race is for horses qualified with the hunt or hunts promoting the meeting.

A maiden race is open to any horse which has never won a race at a point-to-point meeting or any race under the rules of the Jockey Club.

A restricted race is open to any horse, which at starting, has not won any race under the rules of any recognised racing authority other than a National Hunt Flat Race or flat races, or any point-to-point steeple chase other than maiden races or hunt members’ races.

An intermediate race is open to any horse which has not won a flat race under Jockey Club rules or other racing authority.

A confined race is for horses qualified with the hunt or hunts promoting the meeting.

An open race is open to any horse and is either a men’s (ridden by gentlemen), ladies’ (ridden by ladies) or mixed (ridden by either).

DETAILS

Point to Point will be held at Charing Racecourse on Sunday, february 18. For more details visit pointtopoint.co.uk