Abstract: A riser topping gathering system and method are disclosed. The system and method are used in gathering riser topping material from the riser cavities of the cope portion of a mold. A capture hood includes high-pressure air outlets and is connected to a duct system, collector and air moving mechanism. The capture hood is moved into contact with the top of the cope mold portion. The air moving mechanism pulls a stream of ambient air over the top of the cope mold portion while high pressure air is pulsed into the riser cavities through the high air pressure outlets. The pulses of high-pressure air activate the riser topping materials and raise them out of the riser cavities and into the path of the ambient air in the capture hood. The moving ambient air carries the riser topping material out of the capture hood and into the duct system. The air and riser topping material is moved to the collector where the riser topping material is separated from the air.