The Wales and Border Harness Racing season runs from May to September, with race meetings held most Saturdays and occasionally on weekdays. There are bookies, burgers and beer.
£10 admission, Under-16s free, CASH ONLY
2026 Fixtures
Saturday 16th May – WBHR Amman Valley – Penalty Free SA18 1UN 1:30pm
Saturday 23rd May – Synod Inn SA44 4XD 1:30pm
Saturday 30th May – WBHR Amman Valley SA18 1UN 1:30pm
Saturday 6th June – WBHR Amman Valley SA18 1UN 1:30pm
Saturday 13th June – WBHR Presteigne LD8 2HG 1:30pm
Saturday 20th June – Presteigne LD8 2HG 1:30pm
Saturday 4th July – WBHR Almeley HR3 6LD 1:30pm
Saturday 11th July – WBHR Almeley HR3 6LD 1:30pm
Saturday 18th July – WBHR Ludlow SY8 3EX 1:30pm
Saturday 25th July – WBHR Almeley HR3 6LD 1:30pm
Saturday 1st August – Penybont LD1 5TY 1:30pm
Saturday 8th August – Newbridge on Wye @ Cilmery LD2 3LG 1:30pm
Saturday 15th August – WBHR Ivington HR6 )JH 1:30PM
Saturday 22nd August – Llandrindod @ Penybont LD1 5TY 1:30 pm
Monday 31st August – West Wales Committee – Amman Valley SA18 1UN 1:30pm
Saturday 5th September – WBHR New Radnor LD8 2TN 1:30pm
Saturday 12th September – WBHR Amman Valley SA18 1UN 1:30pm
Saturday 19th September – Charity @ Presteigne – Penalty Free LD8 2HG 1:30pm
Please note that meetings are occasionally cancelled, usually because of the weather, if it’s very wet or forecast to be extremely hot. On rare occasions race meetings may be relocated at the last minute. If you are travelling a long distance or the weather forecast is suspect, check the facebook pages before you set off:
https://www.facebook.com/share/16uNuaCrAF/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1N3Hhz8PzY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Directions to tracks
| Almeley, nr Kington, Herefordshire HR3 6LD A fast open track which everybody loves to race on, in a beautiful gently sloping field surrounded by apple orchards. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/yWkSP2vmefgcJAa18 What3Words: charge.grandest.deny |
| Amman Valley SA18 1UN (horses) or SA18 1UT (spectators) The only purpose-built, all-weather track that we race on. The surface is stone dust and racing is fast and furious. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kztwhq9xsjaYdNK8A What3Words: blotting.yesterday.training Please note that cars and horseboxes use different entrances with different postcodes. |
| Cilmery, nr Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3LG A popular, open track with a tough uphill finish, set in a natural amphitheatre with brilliant views of the track and surrounding hills, with the occasional Heart of Wales Line train chugging past. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/qfcMyXdU5SNvuBjD8 What3Words: poodle.optimists.renamed |
| Ivington, nr Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0JH A rare opportunity to race in Herefordshire’s arable country on a great field nestled behind a beautiful old red brick farm. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/B15ijvL2L62NQRfZ8 What3Words: raves.trooper.procured |
| Kinnerton, New Radnor, Powys A decent half-mile track in another stunning location, this time overlooking the Radnor Forest, in a large meadow dotted with mature trees. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/JhJU1Y5cpesj5HVC8 What3Words: raves.fillings.declining |
| Llangunllo, Knighton, Powys LD7 1SL A tight front-runners’ track in a secret valley surrounded by wooded hills. Opposite Griffin-Lloyd Shooting Ground (clay pigeons). | https://maps.app.goo.gl/XxXVmbzpPqMkAXr26 What3Words: barrel.comfort.unloads |
| Ludlow (at Bitterley), Shropshire Our most eastern track. A beautiful sloping field, tight in places, with far-reaching views of Clee Hill and beyond. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/2YPCmdhBMQBaoDhn7 What3Words: threaten.spouting.comically |
| New Radnor (at Vron Farm), Powys LD8 2TN An unusually shaped track (more like a square than an oval) with beautiful views of the hills on all sides, with races often held in the evenings where they get a popular reception from locals. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/veb2L7Nr4iki1xLg6 What3Words: november.snappy.swoop |
| Penybont, nr Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 5TY Known as the Wembley of Wales, this is the scene of many an incredible race, on a tight and often challenging track that everybody wants to win on. Flanked by river on two sides, and with fantastic views of the distant hills, it also boasts a grandstand on the side of the hill. Unusually, the field is owned by the racing committee. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/iNUg8EEbeqYyzpZC7 What3Words: moment.descended.masterpiece |
| Presteigne (at Broadheath Common), Powys LD8 2HG The only race meeting that is held on common land, at Broadheath Common near Presteigne. Long straights, tight corners, views of the hills and woods: another lovely place to race. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/ruT2PcehzDquz86P6 What3Words: wallet.highlighted.tropic Please note: horseboxes park at opposite end of field using a different gateway |
| Synod Inn, Llandysul, Ceredigion SA44 4HD One of our most dramatic settings, on a hilltop overlooking Cardigan Bay. The track is good as long as it doesn’t rain, and has a tough uphill finish to test the horses’ fitness. | https://maps.app.goo.gl/rPsY1adgB9W7zJ3z5 What3Words: driftwood.myths.mural |
About Wales and Border Harness Racing
Harness racing (aka ‘trotting’) involves pacers or trotters pulling light 2-wheeled carts called sulkies, usually for a mile, which takes just over 2 minutes. It’s first past the post, no points for style. The Thoroughbred that we see on TV has a higher top speed than the trusty Standardbreds we use, but the great advantage of watching harness racing is that you are so much closer to the action, and this makes it very exciting.
At a typical WBHR race meeting, expect burgers, beer, bookies, beautiful scenery, sometimes a bouncy castle – and a lot of characters. The atmosphere is friendly, the rivalries good-natured, and the community spirit is strong. For some reason newcomers to the races are often surprised by the excellent condition and relaxed demeanours of the horses as they wait for their turn to race. It is fair to say that our horses are in better condition than many of their owners…
We are the last truly grassroots, independent horseracing organisation still remaining in the UK. All participants are amateurs and the races are run by teams of dedicated volunteers. We’re in it for the love of the sport and the community that comes with it, not for promises of great riches. That said, our prize money is generous compared to every other amateur equestrian discipline, with most races worth between £100 and £500 to the winner.
We don’t need much infrastructure or equipment to put on a great day’s racing, just a large flat field with decent access, some posts and rope, a PA system, and some much appreciated backup from medics and vets. We put up the tracks a few days before the races, and take them down within minutes of the last race being run. Everybody goes home, the sheep return, and the farmer gets his field back for another 364 days.
It’s a lot of work and it’s worth it. One word of warning: if you show too much enthusiasm as a spectator and start making a regular appearance, there’s a high chance you will be noticed and given jobs (which is when the fun really starts).
Who takes part?
We are ordinary people from Wales and surrounding areas: farmers, farriers, builders, blue- and white-collar workers, small business owners, and surprisingly often nurses. Some of us are ancient, some are children. Some of us are a bit of both. We’re not millionaires and nor are we turning up in lorries worth more than your house, we’re just normal people with a shared passion for our very all-consuming hobby.
Everybody is welcome and a walk around the paddock will reveal an unexpectedly diverse group of people taking part. Drivers range in age from 16 to 70+, with men and women competing as equals, but we also have Junior races for riders or drivers under the age of 16 (yes, aboard full-sized, fully fit racehorses).
If race driving isn’t for you, there are lots of other ways to get involved, from owning, training or grooming, to fundraising, judging and stewarding. Regardless of your age, fitness or level of ability, you will be welcomed and included if you share our passion for racing.
The horses are Standardbred pacers, often home-bred from stock that trace back to American or New Zealand mares, and sired by fast imported American stallions. We take horse welfare very seriously and have two welfare officers to ensure standards remain high. Many of the horses you see racing on the track are much-loved family pets, not just racehorses, and enjoy a varied and happy life. The aim is for them to retire sound, ready to embrace a new career as a pleasure horse (if not going to breed the next generation).
We do not have age-restricted races for 2- or 3-year-old horses, which means nearly all our racehorses are older than that when they start their racing career
Feedback from members of the public
“There’s more to it than we thought; we were expecting about 10 trailers but this is a proper day out!” Kerry and Peter, who purchased a retired pacer from me and wanted to see what his life would have been like before they bought him.
“The horses are in amazing condition and they are so relaxed and well-behaved considering what impressive athletes they are.” Jan, animal welfare officer
“I am not enjoying myself. There are too many women here. It’s wrong. Women should not own horses.” Local resident at Ammanford whose nickname is unprintable
Collingwood Standardbreds 