Ludlow racecourse has cancelled the remainder of its 2026-27 jumps season after a prolonged drought left the racing surface unfit to safely stage races. The Shropshire track's 12 remaining fixtures have been transferred to other venues, and racing will not resume until October 2027.
The decision was announced on Thursday following an inspection of the track. A statement said the move, taken by the racecourse and the BHA Inspectorate, followed ongoing challenges presented by the extended dry period and its impact on the turf.
Free-draining gravel base left vulnerable
The statement explained that Ludlow Racecourse is built on a free-draining gravel base, which is normally an advantage during wet winters but left the course particularly vulnerable to this year's prolonged dry conditions. As the grass began to deteriorate, there was not sufficient time for the track to return to the condition necessary to allow racing to resume, despite the efforts of the racecourse team, working with their agronomist and the BHA Inspectors.
The advice provided by the racecourse agronomist drew on the approach taken during similar conditions in 2025. However, despite following the same guidance, the outcome in 2026 was significantly different, with the grass failing to recover as anticipated due to the lack of rainfall in September and October.
Water restrictions and next steps
Ludlow Racecourse's water extraction rights, regulated by the Environment Agency, placed limitations on the volume of water available, which significantly inhibited the racecourse's ability to keep the grass alive. The statement confirmed that Ludlow's next 12 fixtures have been transferred to other racecourses, with racing set to return in Autumn 2027.
Ludlow has submitted a planning application for an enlarged reservoir that would significantly increase the racecourse's water-storage capacity and its resilience during any future periods of prolonged dry weather.
Ludlow chief executive Simon Sherwood said: "This has been a tremendously difficult decision. We have explored every available option, but the prolonged dry conditions have left us unable to provide a racing surface of the standard required.
"We appreciate just how disappointing this will be for our annual members, racegoers, participants and everyone connected with Ludlow. We are extremely grateful for their patience, loyalty and understanding.
"We will use this period to restore the track, invest in our facilities and improve the racecourse's resilience to prolonged dry weather. Our focus is firmly on the future, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Ludlow in 2027."
Fixture transfers
The transferred fixtures are: 23 Nov 26 - Huntingdon, 02 Dec 26 - Catterick Bridge, 16 Dec 26 - Ayr, 07 Jan 27 - Taunton, 21 Jan 27 - Warwick, 10 Feb 27 - Wincanton, 24 Feb 27 - Wincanton, 04 Mar 27 - Musselburgh, 25 Mar 27 - Exeter, 05 Apr 27 - Fakenham, 20 Apr 27 - Market Rasen, 09 May 27 - Huntingdon.
