Barbury and the surrounding area is something of a hotspot for the training of National Hunt racehorses. The premier event in the season last month, the Cheltenham Festival, is where everyone involved in the sport wants to have a winner. Lambourn Downs trainers were well represented, with 46 runners and 5 winners, whilst Wiltshire drew a blank from 19 runners. Let's take a look at how they got on...

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Due to retirement an opportunity has arisen at The Barbury Castle Estate near Marlborough, Wiltshire. The Estate extends to c.2,200 acres and its operations comprises: Livestock and arable (mainly contracted out) farming, maintaining gallops and other responsibilities for a large horse racing business, a highly regarded shoot, forestry, conservation, property letting and preservation.   Barb...

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With the news that Ireland’s attempt at closed doors racing has become a short-lived attempt to outwit the virus, western Europe is a wasteland for sporting endeavour, with no nation permitting organised sport at any level. Even the Olympics has capitulated in the path of the all-conquering Coronavirus. The shutdown serves as a reminder that enjoying racing need not be limited to the Britis...

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With the news that all racing in the UK been cancelled due to Coronavirus, Peter Watton from OddsMonkey explains what this could mean for the sport — and the people that rely on it to earn their living. Looking out over the Marlborough Downs on these past few wonderful Spring days, it seems unreal to hear of the further spread of COVID-19. The virus is set to cause huge damage to the world'...

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The Point-to-Point Authority has cencelled the rest of the season, cincluding all fixtures henceforth, as a result of the government's advice last evening on avoiding social contact. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to Barbury when racing reconvenes in the autumn.

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The final Barbury fixture on Sunday April 5 remains on course, despite many sports halting or postponing over the past few days.  The race meeting is under the overall jurisdiction of the British Horseracing Authority, whose COVID-19 steering group met on Friday to issue the following statement, "British racing continues to be in close contact with the UK government and has been followinhg t...

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Wiltshire-based trainer Neil Mulholland has three horses entered for the 2020 Randox Health Grand National this year. However, all three runners are ranked as outsiders with the bookmakers for the race. The betting reflects the fact that all three will need help from above them in the weights if they are to make the cut. Their odds would almost certainly be slashed if they were given the opp...

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Marlborough trainers have long grown used to playing second fiddle to the weight of steeplechasing talent that is housed throughout the Lambourn Valley, not 30 minutes drive hence. But that is all changing. Alan King, Emma Lavelle and Neil King, who all train within 3 miles of each other and within hailing distance of Barbury Racecourse, the best regarded Point-to-Point course in the South West, ...

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THE rearranged Vine & Craven Hunt point-to-point meeting at Barbury on Saturday has been called off. The fixture, which fell victim to high winds from Storm Ciara on Sunday, has been postponed this time after heavy rain overnight left the course inaccessible to emergency vehicles. Organisers are considering their options, and any further updates will follow in due course.

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Next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup is the premier horse race at the Cheltenham Festival and indeed the National Hunt season at large. The legendary race caps off the four-day event at Prestbury Park and hands out the richest prize in British and Irish horse racing outside the Aintree Grand National. The Cheltenham Festival launches a feast of great spring horse racing along with the Grand National. ...

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SAM Jukes has reported his Cheltenham Festival hope Marcle Ridge remains on course for the rearranged Vine & Craven Hunt meeting at Barbury on Saturday, writes Russell Smith. The fixture, which was postponed last weekend due to high winds from Storm Ciara, has been rescheduled subject to the necessary officials being found. And Jukes, who is based at Dymock, near Ledbury, is keen to run the ...

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The Vine & Craven Hunt Point-to-Point meeting which was postponed yesterday due to high winds, has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 15 - as long as all the necessary officials can be found to run the fixture. Race times would remain the same and entries would stand. First race 11.30am.

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Everyone knows horsey folk love their dogs. Recent research in our sister sport Team Chasing identified that 60% of attendees owned a dog and the figure would be broadly similar in Point-to-Point racing.  So it won't be a total surprise to discover that this Sunday's Vine & Craven Point-to-Point at Barbury stages a dog show alongside the racing. If you fancy displaying your best behaved ...

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SAM Jukes is excited about running Cheltenham Festival hope Marcle Ridge at the Vine & Craven Hunt meeting at Barbury Racecourse, near Marlborough, on Sunday, writes Russell Smith. Jukes, who is based at Dymock, near Ledbury, believes the Clive Bennett-owned eight-year-old can step up on his six-lengths second to Caid Du Berlais at Buckfastleigh last month when he lines up in the Mixed Open. ...

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Barbury's next fixture, the middle of three this season, adds a new innovative race to connect stable yards all over the South West. This year’s event on Sunday February 9 is set to be bigger and better than ever with the inaugural running of the Barbury Races Stable Staff Dash at the end of the day, in aid of the Air Ambulance. Open to all those working in licensed training yards, entrants ...

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New Year's Day means one huge birthday for all Thoroughbreds who share the same official birthday. If you love your racing, celebrate with them and look aherad to some of the winter's great racing fixtures, including here at Barbury! Happy New Year!

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David Sunderland, jockeys' valet at countless fixtures across the Midlands and Wiltshire area, died suddenly after racing at Barbury last Sunday.  A whole generation of riders has grown up under his tutelage and sound if occasionally pointed guidance in the Weigh Tent, and he will be sorely missed. Condolences from all at Barbury to his family.

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Exactly 100 competitors stepped up to the oche for the Barbury International Point-to-Point at Barbury on Sunday (writes Jake Exelby) and it was The Dellercheckout – named after a famous moment in darts – who hit the bullseye when landing the feature race, the 13-runner Plusvital Mixed Open. Caroline Robinson’s six-year-old, given a clever and patient ride by daughter Immy, made ...

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The fourth renewal of the Barbury International Point-to-Point fixture again draws together horses and riders from the UK and Ireland for the only time on a UK point-to-point course, writes Jake Exelby. The fixture is the only British point-to-point meeting open to both Irish horses, trainers and riders and professionally trained horses.Clerk of the Course John White confirmed on Monday that, foll...

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Barbury Racecourse’s three fixtures this season have co-ordinated effort to capture their share of the runners competing in Point-to-Point races by devising four initiatives for the forthcoming season, launching with the unique Barbury International fixture next weekend, on Sunday December 15th. Leading Irish equine supplements firm Plusvital is to underwrite a fresh initiative to encourag...

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