Ludlow Horse Races

The racecourse is located between the small villages of Bromfield and Stanton Lacy in the county of Shropshire, which gives Ludlow racecourse a relaxed atmosphere.

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Although Ludlow racecourse may not have many races that attract international, or even national, importance, the course does have a number of stand out meetings held across the racing season that really add to the sense of occasion at the course.

The racing at the course takes place mostly in the early parts of the calendar year, with a good spread of action available.

Different bookies have different services with some only focusing on the UK and Ireland whilst some bring you the action from all around the world. If you are after a specific race, please visit our preview section or for all races from a specific track, check out our track guides.

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Ludlow racecourse is located near to the market town of Ludlow in the village of Bromfield, in the county of Shropshire in England.

As a National Hunt only course, featuring both steeplechase racing over fences as well as hurdle racing, it will come as no surprise to fans that the action at the course takes place throughout the colder months but the good news for fans is that course is a mix of a mostly gravel and loam base to it’s turf track and that allows for good drainage which helps the course to offer racing even when the weather isn’t at its best, especially in a part of the country that has really been hit hard by wet weather over the last decade or so.

This allows the course to offer a change from the usual heavy ground and that makes it a popular course for trainers and helps the course to attract a better quality of horse than many courses of the same size and status.

As mentioned, Ludlow offers a mix for steeplechase and hurdle racing action with hurdle races been run over 2 miles, 2 miles and 5 furlongs and 3 miles. The hurdles are padded to make for safer racing and offers a 1 mile and 5-furlong circuit finished by a home straight of 3 furlongs.

The courses steeplechase race featured mobile fences that once again helps Ludlow to keep racing as they can move the fences away from any boggy areas or areas of the turf that have cut up.

Jump racing at the course takes place over a range of lengths including 2 miles, 2miles and 4 furlongs, 3 miles and 3 miles and 1 furlong although a single circuit is just 1 mile and 3 furlongs.

The course is better suited to fast horses rather than stayers, especially with all of the effort the course gives to keep the turf dry.

The course hosts a number of race meeting throughout the winter, usually starting in early October with the Tanner Christmas Meeting been amongst the most popular.

No matter if you want to watch one of the bigger races from the biggest meetings held at the course or the smallest race at the smallest meeting, the great news for all racing fans is that you can and that it has never been simpler.

All of the online bookmakers that feature on this page bring you each and every race live from the course so no longer do you need to make the trip to your local bookie in the hope that they are showing the races you are interested in and no longer do you need to be at the course in person, you can simply watch live online.

No matter if you prefer to watch via your phone, laptop, computer or tablet, you can.

Whilst there is a wagering requirement that needs to be met before you can watch the races live, the chances are that you came across this page because you are looking for a life stream of Ludlow races and if you are wanting to watch the races, you are also wanting to bet on the action, so why not choose to bet with a bookie that allows you to watch along live?

Cheer on your backed horse at the course by watching live online and hopefully watch as your horse goes onto win.

1725: The first recorded racing at Ludlow

The documented history of Ludlow Races dates back to 1725, making Ludlow Racecourse one of the historic venues in British horse racing. The course is located at The Old Field, Bromfield, approximately two miles north of Ludlow town centre in Shropshire. Its long association with racing has helped establish the venue as an important part of the county’s sporting heritage.

Local tradition suggests that the site’s history may stretch back even further. According to legend, soldiers from Ludlow Castle matched their horses against one another on the land during the fourteenth century. Although this story is not the same as a verified record of organised racing, it reflects the area’s longstanding association with horses and equestrian competition.

The Old Field itself has a much older history than the racecourse. The land contains Bronze Age burial mounds, with archaeological features understood to date back several thousand years. These scheduled monuments remain within the wider circuit, giving the venue a remarkable connection to the distant past. Few sporting grounds can claim that their surroundings were used by people long before the invention of the modern racecourse.

By the eighteenth century, organised horse racing was becoming an established form of entertainment across Britain. Meetings attracted local spectators and sporting enthusiasts, while competition between horses provided opportunities for owners to demonstrate the quality of their animals. Ludlow’s recorded racing history began during this period, although the course would change considerably over the following centuries.

The nineteenth century: From flat racing to jumping

During its early history, Ludlow hosted flat racing as well as other forms of competition. The venue’s transition towards National Hunt racing took place during the nineteenth century, as hurdle races and steeplechases became increasingly important to its identity.

The first hurdle racing at Ludlow is recorded in 1850. By 1870, the course had become exclusively associated with jump racing, establishing the specialisation that continues today. This development reflected the wider popularity of steeplechasing in Britain and Ireland, where horses were tested over obstacles rather than racing solely on a flat track.

National Hunt racing includes hurdle races and steeplechases. Hurdle races feature smaller, more flexible obstacles, while steeplechases use larger fences, often including open ditches and water jumps. Both disciplines test jumping ability and stamina, but the obstacles and tactical demands differ.

The move towards jumping helped define Ludlow’s character. The venue’s relatively compact circuit and rural setting were well suited to the style of racing, while its proximity to the Welsh Borders allowed it to attract participants and spectators from a wide surrounding area.

1889–1904: The golf course and Edwardian grandstand

One of Ludlow Racecourse’s most distinctive features emerged in the late nineteenth century. An 18-hole golf course was laid out within the racecourse grounds in 1889. It was later remodelled by James Braid, the five-time Open Championship winner and one of the most influential golf course architects of his era.

The presence of a golf course inside the racing circuit gives Ludlow an unusual layout. The two sports occupy the same wider landscape, although their activities are managed separately during race meetings. The arrangement has become part of the venue’s identity and is frequently mentioned among its more unusual characteristics.

The Edwardian grandstand was constructed in 1904. It gave spectators a more substantial place from which to watch the racing and remains a prominent feature of the racecourse today. The stand retains historic architectural details, including elements of its original ironwork and traditional interior fittings.

The construction of the grandstand reflected the development of British racecourses during the period. As meetings became more organised, venues needed improved facilities for spectators, officials and participants. Ludlow’s new stand helped establish a more permanent and comfortable race-day environment while preserving the traditional character of the site.

The Forbra Gold Cup and a famous Grand National winner

A particularly important name in Ludlow’s racing heritage is Forbra, the horse that won the Grand National at Aintree in 1932 at odds of 50/1. The victory became a famous upset in the history of the race and established Forbra as a notable name in British jump racing.

Forbra was owned by William Parsonage, a bookmaker and Ludlow town councillor. His connection with the town helped give the horse’s success a strong local significance. The achievement was subsequently commemorated through the Forbra Gold Cup, a race associated with Ludlow Racecourse.

The story remains an important example of how local racing traditions can become linked to major national sporting achievements. The Grand National attracts attention from well beyond the racing community, and a winner at long odds can become a lasting part of the sport’s folklore.

The Forbra Gold Cup preserves this connection between the racecourse and its past. It is a reminder that the history of Ludlow Races is not simply a list of meetings and results, but a collection of stories involving horses, owners, local personalities and memorable sporting moments.

1980: A royal visit remembered in racing history

One of the best-known modern stories associated with Ludlow Racecourse took place on 24 October 1980. Prince Charles, now King Charles III, rode his own horse Allibar in an amateur riders’ chase at Ludlow, finishing second. Lady Diana Spencer was present at the meeting, and the outing is remembered as the first occasion on which the couple appeared together in public.

The event brought national attention to the racecourse and became an unusual chapter in its history. Although Ludlow was already well established as a jump racing venue, the royal visit connected it to a major moment in modern British public life.

The story is still recalled as part of Ludlow’s heritage, illustrating how racecourses can become settings for events that reach far beyond the sport itself. For a venue known for its welcoming, traditional atmosphere, the occasion remains a particularly memorable example of racing’s ability to bring together sporting and social history.

2003: The opening of the Jubilee Stand

Ludlow Racecourse continued to invest in its facilities as visitor expectations evolved. In 2003, the Jubilee Stand was opened by the Prince of Wales, adding a new dimension to the venue’s hospitality and spectator provision.

The stand provided additional space for restaurant dining, hospitality suites and private events. It complemented the older Edwardian grandstand, allowing Ludlow to offer a combination of traditional racing atmosphere and more contemporary facilities.

Hospitality has become an important part of the modern racecourse experience. Visitors can choose from general admission, restaurant packages and private boxes, depending on their preferences and budget. The facilities are also used for events beyond racing, including conferences, weddings and private celebrations.

Despite these changes, Ludlow has maintained its identity as a relatively intimate, privately owned racecourse. Its focus remains on jump racing and the close relationship between the venue and its local community.

The modern racecourse: A distinctive National Hunt venue

Today, Ludlow Racecourse stages a programme of National Hunt fixtures across the autumn, winter and spring seasons. Its course layout is one of the features that sets it apart from other jump racing venues in Britain.

The chase circuit measures approximately one mile and three furlongs, with nine fences per circuit. The hurdles course is longer, at around one mile and five furlongs, with six hurdles per circuit. The track is right-handed and relatively flat, which can contribute to a brisk pace and place a premium on efficient jumping.

The course’s surface is unusual, with the racecourse reporting that approximately 70 per cent of its base consists of gravel and 30 per cent loam. This combination helps the track drain efficiently during wet weather. The racecourse also has an irrigation system supplied by a reservoir within the course, allowing the ground to be managed during dry periods.

Another distinctive detail is the parade ring, where horses walk anti-clockwise before their races. Ludlow and Goodwood are identified by the racecourse as the only two British courses with this arrangement. The layout allows trainers to move away from horses more safely when assisting jockeys to mount.

The racecourse also features public road crossings that are closed during racing, with protective matting laid where the course crosses the road. This unusual arrangement reflects the site’s historic landscape and provides another detail that makes Ludlow different from many modern venues.

Today, Ludlow combines these distinctive features with modern facilities, accessible viewing areas, food and drink options, hospitality packages and a strong local atmosphere. Its position near the historic town of Ludlow makes it an appealing destination for visitors exploring Shropshire.

From the first recorded racing in 1725 to its present role as an established National Hunt venue, Ludlow Racecourse has maintained a distinctive place in British horse racing. Its history includes the development of jump racing, the construction of the Edwardian grandstand, the remarkable Grand National success of Forbra and the memorable royal visit of 1980.

For today’s racegoers, that heritage adds another dimension to a day at Ludlow Races. The setting may be historic, but the sporting action remains immediate and unpredictable. Whether you are watching a hurdle race, following a steeplechase or simply enjoying the Shropshire countryside, Ludlow offers a genuine connection to centuries of racing tradition.