MORE than 10,000 people are expected to flock to Lockinge, near Wantage, on Easter Monday for Old Berkshire Hunt’s popular point-to-point race meeting.

Last year’s attendance was hit when about 5,000 fewer people watched the event compared to April 2007 because of spells of snow and hail.

The horse racing meeting will be accompanied by family activities, including a shaggy dog show, terrier racing, birds of prey, a parade of hounds and other country pursuit displays. Visitors will also be able to browse around about 30 trade stands, which will include clothing, handbags, jewellery and racing accessories.

There will be a dozen catering stands with a choice of sweets, ice creams, burgers and hot dogs.

The gates will open at 9.30am and the horses will parade in the ring at 1.15pm for the first of the six races, with the tape going up on the first at 1.30pm.

Later, there will be aspiring young jockeys to be seen pony racing after the last of the point-to-point races.

Jockey-turned-trainer Stan Mellor, who rode his way into the history books as the first National Hunt jockey to ride 1,000 winners, will judge the best ride of the day.

The chairman of the organising committee, Tony Constance, said he hoped the weather would be good this year.

He said: “We are expecting upwards of 10,000 people, depending on the weather. This year we are putting a bit more emphasis on a nice family day out. The birds of prey are returning for the second year and we have not had terrier racing before.

“It is a major event for Oxfordshire.”

Admission will be £20 per car, £10 single occupancy, £5 per pedestrian. Racecards are £3 each or two for £5.

More detiails are available by visiting the website oldberkshunt.co.uk