SANDRACER.COM ~ ALL WEATHER RACING BLOG

Galopin Des Champs produces a dominant to display to win a first Punchestown Gold Cup....

British racecourses have revealed significant community and charity commitments in 2024 as part of the British Racing Social Impact Survey. The survey asked racecourses to share details of the community engagement work they did in 2024 including fundraising, volunteering, partnerships and donations. The results will provide the RCA with a...

Isabel Jordan has been chosen as April’s Spotlight Award winner, British Eventing announced today (29 April, 2025). As part of her award, Isabel wins a uvex exxential 3 riding helmet, courtesy of Zebra Products. Presented jointly by The Howden Way and British Eventing, the Spotlight Award is a monthly recognition that celebrates individuals...

By Russell Smith With the UK bathed in sunshine, extensive watering is taking place at Mollington, near Banbury, in a bid to provide Good ground for the Warwickshire meeting, which traditionally attracts a big crowd on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5 (2pm). Speaking from the track where two bowsers have...

Marine Nationale gets the better of Fact To File to win a thrilling Champion Chase on the first day of the Punchestown Festival....

Ascot Racecourse has announced that Royal Ascot Trials Day will shift from its traditional Wednesday slot to Friday from 2026, following a fixture exchange with Musselburgh Racecourse. The British Horseracing Authority and the Flat Pattern Committee have approved the change, which will see the meeting take place on Friday 1st...

There will be memorabilia on display at Catterick Racecourse on Racing Reminiscence Day, Monday 12 May Catterick Racecourse, in collaboration with Racing Welfare, will celebrate the sport’s rich heritage with Racing Reminiscence Day on Monday 12 May, set against the backdrop of a thrilling Flat racing fixture. Racing Reminiscence Day...

The British Equestrian Trade Association’s Trade Awards, the BETAs, are now accepting nominations for the 2025 awards. The BETAs are made up of 11 awards with five needing nominations from customers before judging commences. The winners will be announced at BETA’s annual gala dinner which will be held on Sunday 28th...

I’m delighted to introduce myself as the Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA). Since stepping into the role, it’s been a whirlwind, full of challenges, yes, but also packed with opportunity. I’ve always believed in diving in with both feet, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. With a...

Sean Bowen says he has "fulfilled a childhood dream" in becoming champion jockey....

Willie Mullins overhauls Dan Skelton on the last day of the season to retain the British jump racing trainers' title....

Strangles Awareness Week: 5–11 May 2025 Horse owners are being encouraged to take part in a new survey to share their experiences and opinions on strangles, one of the most common and contagious equine diseases. The survey, organised by Dechra as part of the Strangles Awareness Week 2025 campaign, aims...

Biosecurity is a fundamental process of helping keep our horses safe, as successful measures can help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. Whether you look after your horse yourself or pay a livery service, it’s wise to practice safety measures throughout our interaction with our fellow equines. In this article,...

On Monday 10th March Dan Skelton was priced up 1/6 to collect his first British trainers' title; six and a half weeks later, Willie Mullins is priced up 1/12 to collect his second British trainers' title.

Dan Skelton leads Willie Mullins by £68,483 this evening but tomorrow's card at Sandown will...

Following the declaration of war on 1st September, 1939, all horseracing was abandoned with immediate effect. Such was the anxiety about the potential for mass casualties as a result of aerial bombing, that all sporting events were cancelled and it took some time for politicians to realise that life in...

The Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) has secured funding from the Racing Foundation and Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to support the implementation of its immediate programme of activity for 2025. The funding approval follows the publication earlier this year of Our People, Racing’s Future – an industry-backed strategy to attract and...

Julia Tyson brings a wealth of human resources experience from the corporate world to her current role of guiding a three-year workforce strategy addressing racing’s recruitment, training and development, employment practices, inclusion and wellbeing. She reveals more to Racing Together. My role as Chair of Horseracing Industry People board has given...

Promising young event horses made their mark in The Howden Way Young horse classes this weekend at Kelsall Hill International in Cheshire. The six-year-old The Howden Way young horse title was claimed by Nina de Haas on her own Javas London. The gelding by Vittorio out of Lady Clover Kilkenny,...

The Jockey Club and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) have today announced a major milestone in their ongoing commitment to thoroughbred aftercare with the appointment of Horses for Courses Ambassadors at every Jockey Club racecourse across the country. With Warwick and Epsom Downs Racecourses being the final two of the Group’s...

Ludlow Racecourse has set the tone for what is predicted to be a record-breaking Racing Together Community Week through two standout initiatives. During February half-term, Ludlow hosted a well-attended “Behind the Scenes” raceday, welcoming families and young people for a memorable introduction to racing. Activities included a course walk led...

The 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event commenced with the traditional first horse inspection, setting the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating competition. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, this premier CCI5*-L event attracts top-tier equestrian talent from around the globe. Trot-Up Highlights: British Contenders Shine Among...

Shedfield Country Stores Limited is celebrating the opening of its new 650sqm flagship store in April 2025, bringing an expanded equestrian and rural lifestyle shopping experience to Hampshire. Formerly known as Shedfield Equestrian Tack Shop, the business has served the local community for 46 years. Now under the ownership of...

Chris Cook of The Racing Post has suggested that Thirsk's Clerk of the Course is living in a world of fairytales and, in a sense, he is correct because: (shock) James Sanderson has just pointed at the electronic Going Stick and declared that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes......

All roads lead to the racing’s largest volunteering effort – Racing Together Community Week Racing Together is delighted to announce the panel for its upcoming Community Week Webinar on Thursday 24th April – a conversation to discuss the huge benefits of getting involved with this year’s  Racing Together Community Week,...

Sandown Park Racecourse is proud to announce the launch of the Community Fund for Elmbridge as part of the racecourse’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2025.  The fund will be the focal point for fundraising at Sandown Park in its anniversary year and beyond and has been established in partnership with...

In a bid to wrestle a second consecutive British trainers' title from Dan Skelton, Willie Mullins' bandwagon rolls in to Ayr...

Six of the yard's original 11 entries for tomorrow's Scottish Grand National (3.35) have made the final declaration stage in a field of 23 runners; those who waited to see...

We love answering your questions here at the Border Post, so please keep them coming… Do horses prefer carrots or Polo mints?...

‘Horses for Courses’. This well-known phrase, one of many originating from horseracing to venture into common vernacular, has taken on a new meaning thanks to the ever-growing Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) initiative of the same name. Horses for Courses sees retired racehorses revisit their old stomping grounds across the country...