ITV’s Champions – Full Gallop has enthralled viewers and fans of racing this summer, but as the Jumps summer break draws to a close, the action remains subdued and attention is inevitably drawn toward the big Flat events, both in this country and abroad. In US horse racing, there are arguably two distinct areas of […] Read more...
After a year which has seen significant criticism head the way of horse racing, those who had been fearing attendance levels were in terminal decline will welcome the good news coming from Ascot and Aintree. Although the Grand National is still nine months away, a look at the current ticket availability shows several sections of […] Read more...
In Scandinavia, horse racing has a rich history dating back centuries, evolving from traditional agricultural roots to becoming a beloved sport and social event. Today, major events like the Norwegian Derby, Swedish Derby, and Danish Derby attract enthusiasts and punters alike, showcasing top-quality horses and fostering a vibrant racing culture. A month ago, I was […] Read more...
Ludlow Racecourse is one of the oldest racecourses in the UK. Having originally staged flat races, the Shropshire-based horse racing venue is now exclusively a National Hunt venue. There are two courses right now at Ludlow Racecourse. The first is the Hurdles course. This is staged over one-and-a-half miles, featuring six hurdles per circuit of […] Read more...
When racing fans aren’t sampling the action at Ludlow, there are several resources they might typically use to satisfy their racing cravings and keep them firmly in the loop ahead of the next big race day on the calendar at Ludlow. Podcasts are a preference for many, particularly as they can accompany a horse racing […] Read more...
Another season drew to a close on Sunday as Ludlow closed its doors to racing spectators until October, but not before another 53 runners had tried their hand, among which at least 47 returned home elated. If the closure of the season accentuates a changing f the guard, this has never been more apparent than […] Read more...
Fresh from exploring hitherto unvisited British racecourses in pursuit of his first British Trainers’ Championship, Willie Mullins is back on home turf for the Irish National Hunt Festival: 5 days of entertaining racing that caters for every standard of horse, and every level of the sport. Middle distance candidate Daddy Long Legs joined Closutton’s ranks […] Read more...
Trainers often seek to conquer the worlds of both flat and jumps racing, despite the rarity of horses excelling in both disciplines. As Punchestown issues in a grand finale to the big names of the jumps scene, Willie Mullins, one of the finest in the business, faced a rare disappointment in his most recent attempt […] Read more...
In 2022, a groundbreaking virtual reality (VR) experience, offering a firsthand glimpse into the exhilarating world of horse racing, was unveiled during a meeting at Sandown Park. Created with technology pioneered by JockeyCam Ltd, the Virtual Race Experience allowed visitors to immerse themselves in the action of the race. Equipped with VR headsets, horse racing […] Read more...
Willie Mullins is leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of a first British Trainers’ Championship, and Ludlow fans found themselves spectators at the feast as his single runner put in an exhibition round to justify his 1/7 SP, and his second British winner of this week following another at Ffos Las on Monday. Five year […] Read more...
Ludlow is a favourite venue of racing enthusiasts in the UK and the star-studded list of previous winners at the racecourse reads like a who’s who of jump racing royalty. Contestants in Shropshire can often set a searing pace to blitz the circuit at Ludlow with the fences there posing a gentle challenge to most […] Read more...
It’s not often that big race winners at Aintree choose their prep run at Ludlow. Let’s face it, the galloping 2m2f circuit of the National fences doesn’t appear to have much in common with the sharp bends of the 6f shorter Ludlow track. So there were plenty with raised eyebrows when syndicate leader Peter Borg-Neal […] Read more...
On Track With the news of the top ten racecourses for raceday experience still fresh in the memory, one racecourse in particular caught the eye due to its significant rise in scores. Shropshire’s Racecourse and a firm favourite with its loyal fan base, Ludlow took the crown of Britain’s most improved racecourse in the RCA’s […] Read more...
The wet weather has continued to play havoc with the racing programme, with much of Easter washed out. Even where fixtures have taken place, owners and trainers have been holding back seeking better ground rather than firing blanks in bottomless ground that can take a horse a while from which to recover. So perhaps the […] Read more...
A vintage weekend for King’s Capel trainer Venetia Williams produced a treble at Bangor and a winner in a £40,000 handicap chase at Ascot yesterday to bring up her 9th winner of the month. Stable rider Charlie Deutsch was atop all four winners recording a short-priced treble, two going off at 13/8, the other at […] Read more...
Sparse fields made up the seven races on Thursday in soft ground, where the highlight was a double for emerging amateur Toby McCain-Mitchell. Just 35 runners stood their ground – a disappointing result by all accounts. One man’s loss is another’s gain, and point-to-Point rider McCain-Mitchell is converting 3 seasons of race-riding experience largely around […] Read more...
The Cheltenham Festival is officially set to get underway on Tuesday, 12 March, at 13:30 with the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The pinnacle of this year’s four-day event is the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at 15:30 on Friday 15. Last year’s winner, Galopin des Champs, is also the odds-on favourite this year, but can any other […] Read more...
Closing in on 30 years as a trainer, the fire still burns as bright as ever for Venetia Williams. Her legendary career in training was embellished further when she won the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, courtesy of Royale Pagaille, last year, so it’s clear that Williams is still a major player in National Hunt racing. […] Read more...
The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest event on the National Hunt racing calendar anywhere in the world and the roar that greets the tapes flying up for the opener on Tuesday always raises a smile for racing fans of any creed. The 28 race extravaganza from March 12-15 invites comparisons with its equivalent in Flat […] Read more...
We’re just 10 out from the next race meeting at Ludlow, and if the last few events are anything to go by, we’re in for another corker. Throughout February, trainers including Lucy Wadham, Henry Daly, Emma Lavelle, Stuart Edmunds, and Syd Hosie all attained winnings for the chases and hurdles – with their respective mounts […] Read more...
Next week’s Cheltenham Festival will see some 400 horses competing over 4 days of compelling racing at the spiritual home of the sport. There will be horses with all sorts of names, and a few at the back of the field called names they may not recognize by aggrieved punters! The naming of racehorses is […] Read more...
This month’s Cheltenham Festival showcases the top equine talent in National Hunt racing with the best of British and Irish clashing against an occasional Frenchman. Trainers like Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins have achieved significant success at the event, thus becoming closely associated with the four-day meeting based on their records in winning graded and handicap […] Read more...
It’s not often that a small country track plays host to big race contenders, more so since the advent of Premierization. Yet there are still gems to be found among the mid-week races, and in last week’s Forbra Gold Cup, another may yet lurk. Among the track’s most valuable contests, the handicap chase run over […] Read more...
Heavy ground fixtures are often marked by long odds winners, but such has been the length of this interminably wet winter that good ground horses are thin on the ground. When a gravel-based track like Ludlow becomes heavy, you know it’s been wet. Mudlarks are having a season to remember. Nevertheless, every cloud has a […] Read more...
Henry Daly has made two entries at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024 for his promising novice Bowenspark. He has been entered into the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. A decision on which of those races he features in is likely to be made at the declaration stage. Stratford winner has built on […] Read more...
54 runners went to post for our most recent 7 race card earlier this week, and they may well have included the training performance of the year. Demnat could do little wrong in his first season’s racing in France back in 2020-21, clocking up a Conditions hurdle and a first chase win on debut in […] Read more...
After another defining weekend when Irish-trained horses proved their supremacy over their British counterparts at Cheltenham, the prospect of a British winner of Jump racing’s showpiece in March look even slimmer. The Willie Mullins – trained Capodanno, winner of the Grade II Cotswold Chase when beating The Real Whacker, Stay Away Fay and Ahoy Senor, […] Read more...
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious and iconic events on the UK horse racing calendar, and it’s fast approaching. It’s also one of the world’s most recognized multi-day horse racing festivals and runs this year from March 12 – 15. A reflection of the Festival’s broad appeal is the introduction of […] Read more...
A rare break in the wet month we’ve endured this past 30 days allowed our first fixture of 2024 to take place in watery sunshine until the rain returned around the sixth race. 52 runners graced the seven race card on soft ground with heavy patches. It’s a truism that heavy ground tends to produce […] Read more...
At the start of a new calendar year, many of us are putting some goals together for the 12 months ahead, and if you are a keen horse racing fan, owning a share in a racehorse could be one of those you get involved in. If you have been to Ludlow before, or any racecourse […] Read more...
Horses are intimately tied into many cultures, whether through sport, agriculture, or heritage. A post-war generation grew up on images of Victorian America with images of cowboys galloping through dusty landscapes; British folk admire the magnificence of the mounted Household Cavalry at the recent funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II or the coronation of […] Read more...
Jumps racing takes a backseat in the summer months to allow the flat racing discipline of the sport to showcase its finest. Racing will return to Ludlow Racecourse in October when the National Hunt returns to action. Venetia Williams is one of a number of trainers that has exciting prospects ahead of her for the […] Read more...
Tanners Wine Merchants must merit a spot in racing’s Record Books for the longest – standing sponsorship in racing, following another renewal of their support for Ludlow’s pre-Christmas meeting. The Shropshire-based firm has been supporting this event for longer than I care to remember. In the process of raising a glass to firms like Tanners […] Read more...
Hertfordshire-based trainer Venetia Williams has revealed that L’Homme Pressé will not make his comeback run in the 2023 King George VI Chase at Kempton. His return to action is now likely to be in early 2024. L’Homme Pressé, who is one of the highest-rated 3m chasers in the UK, has not featured since falling at […] Read more...
The festive period is upon us and that means a sporting schedule chock full of elite-level horse racing. The highlight of the season is surely the Kempton Park Christmas Festival, with lucrative races such as the King George VI Chase trophy as well as the Christmas Hurdle, and the Desert Orchid Chase. But it is […] Read more...
After winning the Grade I Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, Venetia Williams will be hoping Royale Pagaille can continue his excellent form in the 3m division this season, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March being the ultimate goal. Williams, a winner of the Grand National at Aintree, has yet to win the blue […] Read more...
The cold spell relented in time for 56 horses to face the starter in the seven race card on soft ground this Wednesday, a day that showcased some of the sport’s aspiring riders. The day opened with a handicap hurdle for conditionals, sponsored by longstanding firm G C Rickards. The spoils were landed by 5 […] Read more...
Ludlow has rarely been a venue patronised by the Irish, but such is their dominance of the racing scene presently, and such is the challenge of trainers in Ireland avoiding balloting in their own over-subscribed races, that they are increasingly spreading their wings to the UK mainland even for mid week racing fixtures. We’re well […] Read more...
Our third fixture of the season showcased the talents of one of our favourite visitors in Venetia Williams, who scored a cross-card treble, including a pair of winners at Ludlow. The Williams stable has been into its stride quickly this autumn, capitalizing on ground conditions well suited to Venetia’s choice of horse. Not for her […] Read more...
It is already an exciting season for Hertfordshire-based trainer Venetia Williams as her strong stable has already been flexing its muscles in this 2023/24 campaign. The former Grand National winner will be targeting some of the biggest races in the sport, including the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Williams, a regular at Ludlow […] Read more...
For anyone who has not yet gone to a Ludlow raceday, the Christmas period is one of the best times to get involved. Taking place on December 20th, this is a great opportunity to meet up with fellow racing fans, join in with the festivities, and enjoy a spot of racing! This bucolic event has […] Read more...
This year’s racing politics has been dominated by one topic, namely the Gambling Commission’s proposed affordability checks, designed to protect the vulnerable from overstretching themselves, but in danger of alienating owners and regular bettors who feel quite comfortable in backing up their judgement with significant stakes. Equally importantly, it’s been estimated that checks could cost […] Read more...
After becoming embroiled in a “drug scandal” Hollie Doyle was given one month suspension from racing. So, what happened? One mistake or an addiction? Is it any of the racing authorities’ business either way? These are the questions that are surrounding record-breaking jockey Hollie Doyle this past week. After becoming embroiled in a “drug scandal” […] Read more...
Sunday’s Old Roan Chase may well be the source of a “What Happened Next?” in pub quizzes or Question of Sport following the latest renewal which saw a brief interlude from the October wet weather produce yet another obstacle to racing at Aintree this afternoon. Low sun contrived to force the omission of six of […] Read more...
The wet start to the autumn has precipitated large fields considered a rarity nowadays in the National Hunt sphere. Good to Soft ground at our second fixture enabled 82 runners to take their chance and the seven race card enjoyed double digit fields in three of the contests. It was a day in which the […] Read more...
The rhythmic pounding of hooves, the roaring excitement of the crowd and the collective gasp as horses cross the finish line. There’s nothing quite like being at a racecourse; it’s an experience woven deeply into British culture, encompassing the thrill of the race and the camaraderie among enthusiasts, bound together by a shared love for […] Read more...
As the days get chillier and the nights draw in, horse racing makes its annual switch from the Flat to National Hunt action. Six months or so of top-class racing over obstacles awaits, with a handful of prestigious renewals to come prior to the end of the calendar year. But it’s from January to the […] Read more...
Remember an old TV advertisement from the 1990s for the conglomerate Hanson? The catchline was “a company from over here doing rather well over there”. There, of course, referred to the USA, the world’s richest nation, where every company hopes to break through. Hanson, of course, was the first sponsor of the Epsom Derby through […] Read more...
It is still summer so whisper it quietly, but we are now little more than three months away from the start of 2023/24 National Hunt season at Ludlow Racecourse. While thereÔÇÖs still a ton of top-class flat racing to enjoy before we get to that point, jump racing fans cannot wait for autumn to arrive. […] Read more...
Jumps racing takes a backseat in the summer months to allow the flat racing discipline of the sport to showcase its finest. Racing will return to Ludlow Racecourse in October when our National Hunt returns to action. Venetia Williams is one of a number of trainers that has exciting prospects ahead of her for the […] Read more...
With Ludlow not scheduled to stage another meeting until October 11, you may be wondering what to do with yourself between now and then. However, there are a ton of top-class sporting events taking place in the United Kingdom and Ireland which should keep you fully occupied.┬áFor instance, there are several major football games to […] Read more...
Harry Cobden has laid down a marker that he intends to challenge for the Jockeys’ Championship, and yesterday’s winner for Paul Nicholls doubled his score to 2 for the nascent season. Shearer, running in the colours of Max McNeill, had 2 1/4l to his advantage in a match race against Dan Skelton’s Jeffrey’s Cross to […] Read more...
Cotswold trainer Charlie Longsdon stole the honours at yesterday’s evening meeting with a 77-1 double late in the card to bring his new season tally to 3 winners from just 7 runners. Alghazaal on only his second run over fences, showed a clean pair of heels under Kielan Woods to the rest of the field, […] Read more...
Back in mid-December of last year, ITV found itself in a bit of a pickle. It had planned to broadcast the action from Ascot and Haydock for its flagship ITV Racing Saturday programme. The weather, however, had other plans, cancelling the cards at the two venues at short notice. It prompted a flurry of phone […] Read more...
This week’s news of a free racing club for 18-26 year olds by the Qipco British Champions Series is the latest attempt by racing administrators to engage a young audience which has to fight through 6-8 pages of football and other sport before reaching the racing pages in every mainstream newspaper or web site. It’s […] Read more...
Trainers Henry Daly and Neil Mulholland shared the honours at Ludlow yesterday, each scoring a brace of winners in the final week of the season that concludes at Sandown on Saturday. Mulholland will be sorry to see the counter revert to zero again as his team are in red-hot form. Four of his last five […] Read more...
Attending a horse race can be a thrilling experience that blends the excitement of live sport with the sophistication of a social event. However, what makes a truly unforgettable day out at the races? For those visiting Ludlow, it’s not just the exciting horse races that make it a must-visit destination, but also the breath-taking […] Read more...
Venetia Williams pulled off one of the greatest shocks in the history of the Grand National with her charge Mon Mome in 2009. The horse was a 100/1 outsider, but put forward one of the most memorable performances in National history to take the world’s greatest steeplechase, matching the likes of Foinavon to win the […] Read more...
Owner Wayne Clifford has enjoyed some memorable victories in recent years, not least with Coole Cody in the Paddy Power Gold Cup of 2020, its December equivalent a year on and the Festival Plate in March last year. Coole Cody’s exploits have hidden under a bushel the exploits of one Annsam, whose 8 victories have […] Read more...
FAMILY FUN DAY – FREE ENTRY – 12 – 4PM On Sunday 2nd April, we have a fantastic array of food,┬ádrink and craft┬ástalls including: Shropshire salumi Beau Chocolate Penrhos Spirits Mukaase Afro Caribbean Cuisine LalitaÔÇÖs Indian Street Food Pizza Girls Miss Olives Aunty MoÔÇÖs Scotch Eggs Chockshop The Beefy Boys The Tippled Fox Marvellous Mixes […] Read more...
Time was there used to be poor fields after Cheltenham when every owner has tried his darnedest to have a runner at the sport’s marquee event. Owners are faced with considerably more choice nowadays, added to the fact they may be over-faced by the Irish invasion as well. That’s good news for meetings like ours […] Read more...
If the Festival last week didn’t push back the invasion of Irish winners at Cheltenham, it did, at least, create some pointers toward the other fascinating riddle of the Spring – the Grand National in a little over 4 weeks time. The five week gap between the two key festivals of the Spring should allow […] Read more...
ƒº® All 28 races live ƒº® Two exclusive races every day ƒº® Over 30 hours of unmissable coverage Watch every piece of The #CheltenhamFestival only on @RacingTV > bit.ly/Chelt2023 Read more...
It was a red letter day for Alistair Ralph yesterday, who missed out on a treble by the small trifle of 2 1/4l in the main feature of the day, the Forbra Gold Cup. Alistair Ralph is homing in on a personal best season, and his horses are running hot currently. Based between Bridgnorth and […] Read more...
Quick Wave added to Venetia Williams stable of top flight winners on Saturday last with a game win in the dour conditions of Haydock’s Grand National Trial, and put herself in the frame for a tilt at the real thing in April. She is one of 3 entries by the Ross-on-Wye handler in pursuit of […] Read more...
The bizarre February weather has been playing havoc with trainers’ plans, but 51 horses participated in Ludlow’s penultimate fixture before everyone descends upon Cheltenham in a little more than a fortnight to enjoy the good ground. The bedrock of the sport is amidst the amateur division, where lads and girls learn how to ride and […] Read more...
Shropshire and its surrounds are flying high presently, with trainers from the Marches well represented in the Trainers’ Championship. Trainers large and small have been over-delivering, making our county a centre of excellence for the sport of which Ludlow can be rightly proud. Aspirant racing trainers should look to the best in the business and […] Read more...
The Aintree Grand National has provided many memorable moments in its 184-year history. From legendary horses like Red Rum, dramatic falls, pile-ups, and even a race that never was, the world-famous contest has seen it all. Some of the greatest memories have come when a rank outsider shocks the racing industry to win the richest […] Read more...
The racing gossip grapevine is full currently of reaction to the affordability checks being applied to punters and their impact on racing’s finances. It’s a topic that is likely to rumble on for some time. But there’s a parallel issue which also threatens to provide an alternative outlet for gamblers rather than live racing, which […] Read more...
Venetia Williams is still smarting from the news that stable star L’Homme Press├® is set to miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. The Herefordshire trainer was left disappointed after her star chaser suffered a setback after the King George VI Chase but is now concentrating on getting her other Gold Cup hopeful, Royale Pagaille, […] Read more...
At the start of a new calendar year, many of us are putting some goals together for the 12 months ahead, and if you are a keen horse racing fan, owning a share in a racehorse should be one of those you get involved in. After all, life is short! If you have been to […] Read more...
The wet January has maintained the welcome increase in the volume of runners at our fixtures, to the extent that 68 ran across our seven race card last week to blow away the New Year cobwebs. And whilst many are back at work, those that attended were treated to some close finishes to raise the […] Read more...
Ludlow led the return to racing after the big freeze, and the ambitious ┬ú100,000 card was rewarded with the largest fields in many months as 79 runners faced the starter in the seven races. And there was much for long time race sponsor Tanners Wine Merchants to toast as many of our leading stables showed […] Read more...
The inevitable march toward a fourteenth Trainers’ Championship by Paul Nicholls is not without its peculiarities, not least that Ludlow is not a happy hunting ground in pursuit of winners. Yet to enjoy a winner around our quirky circuit this season, the champion elect has consistently failed to appear in the rankings. But as we […] Read more...
The quiet week with no Jump racing got me musing about how other racecourses earn a return on their capital. The common perception is that British racing may offer the finest sport, but the sport is grossly imbalanced, and underfunded, meaning owners cannot achieve a sustainable return on their ownership through prize money, and trainers […] Read more...
The early stages of the 2022/23 National Hunt season have made impressive reading for trainers based around Ludlow, and many will hope that bright local performances turn into victories on the major stage. Venetia Williams and Fergal OÔÇÖBrien trained horses have great opportunities to capitalise on the momentum of their strong starts to the campaign […] Read more...
Venetia Williams is in fine form this past month, and stamped that wellbeing on Wednesday’s feature Corrie Cup with a fluent win from Laskalin under Shane Quinlan, beating 6 rivals for a handsome midweek prize. The stable is sitting pretty after L’Homme Press├®’s recent fluent reappearance, and the mid winter months are generally a time […] Read more...
The King George VI Chase is one of the biggest races of the season in National Hunt racing, and Herefordshire-based trainer Venetia Williams will be hoping to win it for the second time in her career this year. WilliamsÔÇÖ best chance in 2022 is likely to be with LÔÇÖHomme Press├®. The seven-year-old remains in the […] Read more...
Modern jump racing began in the 18th century in England. Since then, horse racing events in Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Berkshire have shaped the nationÔÇÖs identity in the sport. The success of trainers like Kerry Lee and Henry Daly has also put England on the map for horse racing, but what other countries are actively involved […] Read more...
The curiosity that is the British weather ensured that 39 runners turned out for the six races of our second fixture of the season; only a month ago, ground was too firm. Now, it has turned to the soft that one might reasonably expect in mid-November. One man normally unchecked by matters of weather or […] Read more...
Two-time Grade Two winner Royale Pagaille could be set for a big campaign this season, with all the leading 3m chasers under consideration for Venetia WilliamsÔÇÖ talented chaser, including the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. The eight-year-old featured five times last season, with the pick of his performances coming in the […] Read more...
Fergal O’Brien has pinned his colours to the mast in terms of ambitions for this season, aiming to beat last season’s total of 128 winners, and the momentum he built up over the early months of the season shows no sign of abating now the softer ground horses are reappearing. Today’s 7 runners split between […] Read more...
Ludlow’s season got off the mark on a dank autumn afternoon at the second time of asking, following the cancellation of the early October fixture, but all the talk was of events at Westminster rather than the little bubble of racing. In an extraordinary day of political turmoil, it was little surprise that the Truss […] Read more...
Horse racing has been a sport dominated by men ever since the year dot. Even before it was a sport, riding for pleasure was a luxury only afforded to men. In medieval times, women werenÔÇÖt allowed to ride horses, but it was largely due to the backward cultural norms that were prevalent at the time. […] Read more...
It is set to be an excellent season ahead for the connections of LÔÇÖHomme Press├®┬á, as the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup will be his target at the end of the campaign. The 2022 Brown Advisory NovicesÔÇÖ Chase winner has shown he has the class to win big races at the Cheltenham Festival. The seven-year-old went […] Read more...
   The Conservative leader campaign stopped off at Ludlow racecourse this week to a rousing audience of just under 400 voters. Both runners put their cases across as to why they should be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the countries new Prime Minister. Read more...
    Ludlow Racecourse are pleased to announce our up and coming wedding fair Stall Holders please contact Rhian on events@ludlowracecourse.co.uk  Please call in first instance as only a few left now! Read more...
The summer is populated by racing fixtures in which many of our spectators have only a passing interest in the sport. Innovative racecourse executives have staged music after racing ever since the pioneering Newmarket Nights were brought in 40 years ago by Nick Lees, and mid-summer brings a flurry of Ladies Days. It’s easy to […] Read more...
The Grand National is one of the best-known races in the racing world and close to every Jump fan’s heart. That being said, it is hardly the only one, and what’s more, a whole generation of racing fans are growing up on fantasy and digital racing games which could yet make the real sport obsolete. […] Read more...
If youÔÇÖve ever tried riding as short as Lester Piggott, youÔÇÖll find it very uncomfortable when your knees knock together across the horseÔÇÖs withers. PiggottÔÇÖs seat in the saddle, to accommodate his long legs, was just one of many attributes that have been identified in the many accolades in the week that ÔÇ£The Long FellowÔÇØ […] Read more...
And so to our final meeting of this season, punctuated by as dry a Spring as anyone can remember. Forty-five runners across our seven race card turned out to bid us farewell until October’s restart. The 2021-22 season has been punctuated by several themes, but one which has given much pleasure to many racing folk […] Read more...
Is it a date? Is it a meeting with high profile people? If you’re going to a race meet, you definitely need to dress the part, but what is appropriate for Ascot is not necessarily the same as for Ludlow. Here are 5 tips on how not to miss the occasion! Take the terrain into […] Read more...
Our annual ladies day produced more Best Turned Out awards than there were races, enhanced by some gorgeous Spring sunshine. Thank you to all our participants and for encouraging our accompanying menfolk to scrub up to keep up. Sartorial standards at Ludlow have never been higher! On the track meantime, the handicapper could afford to […] Read more...
The 2022 Cheltenham Festival was, as ever, packed with drama, shock winners, and agonising falls. The apple of Venetia Williams’ eye However,┬áfew sights were quite as arresting as LÔÇÖHomme Presse powering up the Prestbury Park hill to victory in the Brown Advisory NovicesÔÇÖ Chase, and indeed the show of strength was such that it has […] Read more...
We’re not generally a course to enthuse about Flat racing, but there are some events in the international calendar that rise above the partisan divide between the two codes. With just two fixtures of our own remaining therefore, it’s time to look further afield to the US Triple Crown, in which British-trained horses have been […] Read more...
Horses for Courses is a long established racing truism whose merit was tested successfully again at Ludlow this afternoon when Broken Quest secured a third victory at our Shropshire course in the feature Farm & Garden Machinery Handicap Chase in a 3 1/2l win over Trixter. In doing so, he gave a 16th winner of […] Read more...
Race of the day yesterday was deservedly awarded to the day’s feature, the 3m Boyne Cup, which produced a thriller of a finish in which last week’s victor, Tide Times, followed up again by a short head against Kim Bailey’s Bobhopeornohope, the two a distance ahead of the remainder. It was, however, a day punctuated […] Read more...
Online betting has become a cornerstone pastime in the UK. The British public has always enjoyed betting on the horses. So itÔÇÖs not surprising that online betting on horse races has become a popular way to have fun, and maybe win a few pounds here and there too. This may not be news to you […] Read more...
The week after Cheltenham is generally not punctuated by top quality racing, given the lure of big money prizes the previous week. Forty-one runners faced the starter in the 7 races hosted in glorious Spring sunshine at Ludlow yesterday on perfect racing ground to thrill a decent midweek crowd. Ian Williams has had a quiet […] Read more...
The outstanding form of trainer-rider partnership of Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch continued today in what will prove a long-cherished memorable day two of the Cheltenham Festival. L’Homme Presse set the tone by standing his ground in a Brown Advisory Novices Steeplechase after the withdrawal of Bravemansgame due to the ground, and his supremacy was […] Read more...
Herefordshire trainer Venetia Williams added her name to the Grand National roll of honour in 2009 when she saddled Mon Mome to victory in the worldÔÇÖs most famous steeplechase. Williams became only the second female trainer in history to win the race behind Jenny Pitman. Since then, Sue Smith and Lucinda Russell have both all […] Read more...
It’s clear that Tom George is a keen fan of racing at Ludlow; he has sent more runners there than any other course in Britain, and continues to enjoy an outstanding record there. It says something about his affinity for the track that his horses have won more there than at any other British course […] Read more...
Given their recent runs of form, one might reasonably have expected Venetia Williams and Henry Daly to figure at their local fixture, but in the event, the wizard of King’s Caple was conspicuous by her absence, and the Daly horses knocked on the door without quite finding the Winner’s position.┬áInstead, honours were largely shared among […] Read more...
The countdown to the Cheltenham Gold Cup is on, and while the main contenders for the race come from Ireland, the UK has several lively outsiders that are hoping to get involved. One of those is Royale Pagaille, trained by Venetia Williams, and a horse that managed to finish sixth in the race last season, […] Read more...
For most racing fans in the UK, the spring months mean but one thing: the climax of the national hunt season with the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. ThereÔÇÖs plenty of action elsewhere, of course, including lots of meetings at Ludlow right up until May, but the two big festivals tend to gobble up the media […] Read more...
Venetia Williams continued her merry romp through 2022 when adding a further double to her tally at Ludlow this afternoon. Fresh from her first Grade I success since 2002 with L’Homme Presse at Sandown in the Scilly Isles Novices Chase, she was unlucky not to drive home with a treble in the bag after her […] Read more...
A bright January afternoon at Ludlow offered two perfect examples of when use of the stick can sometimes unbalance a horse this afternoon. In the two closest finishes, separating first and second by a neck and and head, the winning rider had in both instances focused on drive and balance against use of the whip. […] Read more...
LetÔÇÖs face it: the start of a new year is rarely the time to make pronouncements on potential Gold Cup winners, nor were there any surprises when the entries were announced last week. ItÔÇÖs not that itÔÇÖs impossible to predict ÔÇô Minella Indo had his backers this time last year ÔÇô itÔÇÖs more the case […] Read more...
Venetia Williams is leading the charge among the trainers of the Welsh Marches. Quick Wave, off the course since March 2020, and the subject of wind surgery in July, showed no ring-rustiness in bolting up in the feature Plyvine Handicap Chase. Frankly the rest were running around for the minor placings once Harry Bannister released […] Read more...
Henry Daly is once again back among the winners, with a cross card double at Catterick and Cheltenham giving him the best possible start to 2022. Having Trevor Hemmings as an owner is the gift that keeps on giving, even though the great man is sadly no longer with us. His executors have not as […] Read more...
Christmas is generally a pretty bucolic affair, so perhaps it’s no surprise that Tanner’s Wines has been the lead sponsor of Ludlow’s pre-Christmas fixture for over 25 years. As most of their work for the holiday period must be done, a celebration should certainly be in order. It’s with partnerships like these that racecourses can […] Read more...
Venetia Williams created history in 2009 by training the 100/1 outsider Mon Mome to victory in the Grand National. The bay gelding became the longest-priced winner alongside Foinavon in the history of the illustrious event when he cantered to victory 12 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. It was one of the biggest […] Read more...
It’s a common refrain in racing that there’s too much of it; that if there were less fixtures, somehow the quality of the fare would be improved. Sadly this is a specious argument. Leaving aside racing’s valuable income streams from media and betting, which rely on constant racing day in day out to perpetuate a […] Read more...
Tom George enhanced his excellent record at Ludlow today with a chase double at a cumulative 24/1, as softer ground delivered better fields all round. Two from four runners is a good day at the office. In the G C Rickards Ltd Novices Handicap Chase Jobesgreen Lad was always handy, led four out and maintained […] Read more...
Name me a trainer with a 75% strike rate in the past 2 weeks? To pre-empt you, it won’t be an obvious choice. Enter stage left one Ryan Potter. Ryan trains near Ross-on-Wye, and enjoyed a rare double at Market Rasen today, proving that the small handlers can mix it with the big boys, and […] Read more...
Venetia Williams, successful at Newbury last weekend with her biggest win since Mon Mome in the 2009 Grand National, has found success at the Cheltenham Festival elusive in recent years, her last winner coming in 2013 in the Festival Plate with Carrickboy under the late lamented Liam Treadwell. In the past 20 years, she’s been […] Read more...
Over here in Shropshire, we consider Venetia Williams one of our own. I mean, she may be over the county border in Hereford, but at less than 36 miles distant, she is, by comparison with many trainers sending us runners, a local. Our local trainers support us and we get right behind them. So watching […] Read more...
Racing TV’s best ever offer! Racing TV are offering their best ever offer for Black Friday! Join Racing TV today for just┬á┬ú10 / Ôé¼12 per month for the next 12 months – a huge saving for the year of┬á┬ú179 or Ôé¼228. This offer is only available today and┬ámust end at midnight, so don’t miss out! […] Read more...
Hats off to groundstaff at Ludlow for producing a winter card with the highest number of runners in a chase among today’s three cards. The eight runners that started in the Marsh Commercial Novices Handicap Chase produced a scintillating finish too, not without incident either. Not that one could say the pace of the race […] Read more...
When the 2022 Cheltenham Festival kicks off next March, horse racing enthusiasts from Shropshire and the surrounding areas will be desperate to see a local winner. The level of quality in the region is high, with Venetia WilliamsÔÇÖ, Michael Scudamore’s and Henry DalyÔÇÖs yards all in good form. Of course, Cheltenham pits the cream of […] Read more...
Hertfordshire-based trainer Venetia Williams will be hoping Royal Pagaille steps up on the form he showed last season, which would put him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture once again. Williams, who regularly has runners at Ludlow, has done an excellent job with her French recruit. The horse arrived in her yard in January 2020. […] Read more...
We’re fond of saying in this country that our racing is the best in the world, whether this is the Derby or the delights of Aintree or the earthy authenticity of Hexham and Ludlow. The rich heritage of Jump racing in this country provides us a solid platform to contest our market-leading credentials over lesser […] Read more...
Reading the papers this week, one could be forgiven for thinking the world is going to hell in a handcart. Budget worries and fisticuffs with the French over fish in the UK, pushing for measures against global warming from reluctant world leaders in Glasgow, and dramas in cricket after Yorkshire’s demonstration of how not to […] Read more...
The last couple of seasons have not been kind to Ludlow’s resident trainer Henry Daly, who trains at Downton Hall, just 4 miles north east of the racecourse. Between December 2020 and the following March, his horses finished in front just twice, fittingly, the second victory in our own Forbra Gold Cup. As Henry told […] Read more...
There was plenty of interest in Irish Finance MinisterÔÇÖs Paschal DonohoeÔÇÖs latest budget announcement, and although Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has disappointingly seen its funding cut by over Ôé¼5 million for 2022, the HRI hierarchy remains extremely positive about the future of the sport. Twelve months ago, HRI received an additional near Ôé¼10 million, an […] Read more...
Herefordshire – based horse trainer Michael Scudamore could have a successful 2021/22 season on his hands if one of his leading charges can take the next step forward in his development. Do Your Job enjoyed a solid season over hurdles in the 2020/21 season, putting forward two excellent performances towards the end of the campaign. […] Read more...
Spectators at Ludlow had to wait until the last race of the day for the closest finish on a day when runners remained thin on the ground despite last night’s rain. But the finish of the Butcher Woods Ltd Novices Handicap Hurdle was well worth the wait as Jamie Moore conjured a final extra effort […] Read more...
Legendary racecourses host the biggest events in the sport. They attract the top names from racing, whether they are horses, trainers, owners, or sponsors. These courses spring to mind as soon as you imagine a horse galloping to the finish line while tens of thousands of spectators cheer it home. Ludlow may not be the […] Read more...
When Rachael Blackmore won the coveted top jockey trophy at this year’s Festival, and topped it 3 weeks later by winning the Grand National, there was talk of laying the ghost of spurned lady riders once and for all. Despite being considered as a male-dominated industry, representation in horse training is actually quite impressive, especially […] Read more...
Marlborough trainers dominated the two steeplechases on Ludlow’s season – opening card today as Alan King and Emma Lavelle both bagged a winner. King, still chuckling from the Group I success of Trueshaan at Longchamp on Saturday, took the Margaret Roberts Remembrance Handicap Chase under Alexander Thorne, making good use of his 5lb claim on […] Read more...
Between March and the end of June 2020, British racing endured its longest shutdown in living memory as the Covid crisis kept everyone confined to their homes. It was a bizarre time looking back, and knowing more now than we did then. But the authorities in the British Horseracing Authority and Racecourse Association took a […] Read more...
Johnny Bullock, who rode the 1951 Grand National winner Nickel Coin, lived in my village, writes Tony Vincent. In 1947 Caughoo won the National by 20 lengths at 100/1. Johnny had told my family to back it, and my grandmother did. Until that time the only horses that interested me were the farmÔÇÖs shires, but […] Read more...
Running from 12th ÔÇô 19th September, National Racehorse Week will be bookended by the existing ARC Malton Open Day and the Henry Cecil Open Weekend in Newmarket, as well as the Epsom and Middleham Open Days, with trainers across the country and outside of the main training centres encouraged and supported to open their doors […] Read more...
We have a number of job opportunities here at Ludlow Racecourse for the upcoming season and we would love to welcome you to our open day, on Wednesday 25th August, where you can find out all about the racecourse and what the staff positions entail. The open day will be an informal event where you […] Read more...
Racings-Return-Key-Messages-and-Q-and-A-300420-2-2Racing’s Return – Key Messages and Q and A 300420 (2) Read more...
We need to start issuing press passes to every journalist and photographer who comes to the racecourse in future. Please could you all contact the office on 01584 856221 to register before you visit and then come to the office on the day to collect your pass which will be date stamped each time.┬á Many […] Read more...
Reminder of our Macmillan Coffee Morning in the Plymouth Stand – Friday 27 September 10am – 12 noon. Raffle prizes include ┬ú150 vouchers from Kerry Foods, badges for racing, champagne, and other goodies. Read more...
