It’s a battle of the heavy horses — next week Clydesdales will be going head-to-head with Shire horses on the racetrack.

The breeds will be going up against each other in a two-furlong race on 6 June at Lingfield Park.

Shires have raced at the track before, and Clydesdales have run at Exeter, but it will be the first time the two breeds have competed at a racecourse.

“This race is about proving the versatility of these great horses along with highlighting their endangerment as breeds. We are determined to show that these fantastic horses have a place in the 21st century. This year’s theme of Shire vs Clyde showcases the differences in these two types and introduces a bit of friendly rivalry between the breeds,” said Jacquie Gardiner, from Hurst Green Shires, organisers of the race.

“The history of the Shire and Clydesdale is intertwined. The Clydesdale was developed for use from the Scottish borders and upwards and the Shire was for middle England but both became very popular as working horses for industry and agriculture.

“Their slightly different build made them suited to the different types of ground they were working with. With the onset of the Great War, huge numbers were requisitioned from around the country to serve in the army. This and the subsequent mechanisation of farming left the breeds at critical numbers in the 1970s. A breeding program and some very determined farmers and producers saved these beautiful animals for future generations but they remain endangered.”

Andrew Perkins, of Lingfield Park Resort added: “I’m thrilled we are once again able to stage this fabulous race.

“The fact that there is even more of a competitive twist this year with the Shires v. the Clydesdales, will make it even more exciting.’

As well as the heavy horse race there will be seven thoroughbred races on the all-weather and turf tracks throughout the day.

Julie Reilly, of sponsors Showerking, said: “We are very grateful to the owners of these animals for making this event possible — there is nothing more thrilling than watching those feathers fly down the track. There will be plenty of opportunity for the public to meet the contestants after the race and we’re looking forward to showing them off.”

Once again top National Hunt jockeys will be taking to the saddle to steer the heavy horses to victory.

But who has the faster turn of foot, the Shires or Clydesdales? Find out on 6 June…

Don’t miss H&H’s art editor Garry Ashton-Coulton giving a Shire a spin at Lingfield ahead of the race, visit: www.horseandhound.co.uk on Wednesday 3 June.

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Lingfield Park racecourse is to benefit from better drainage on its turf course.

Races at Lingfield on the turf course in July and August will be transferred onto the all-weather track to allow for the work to take place on the downhill section of the course.

This should ensure more consistent going, particularly during the National Hunt season.

Jim Allen, racing director, says: “As home to the all-weather championships finals day we can look forward to more years of successful and competitive racing across all codes at Lingfield Park.”

Arena Racing Company (ARC), which runs Lingfield, is also investing in drainage improvements at Chepstow, Fontwell, Sedgefield, and Worcester, and is resurfacing the straight at Great Yarmouth.

Newcastle National Hunt track and Southwell’s turf track is also have investigatory work into flood prevention carried out.

Racegoers were treated to a different type of horsepower when eight shire horses lined up for the Flying Feathers Maiden Stakes as part of Lingfield Park’s annual Countryside Raceday on Saturday (15 June).

The shire horse race was organised to raise awareness for the endangered breed, which is on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s “at risk” list because there are so few breeding mares.

The winner was Joey owned by Hurst Green Shires and ridden by Mark Grant.

Watch shire horse race

Find out more about shire horses by visiting www.shire-horse.org.uk

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A slightly Roman nose, soup-plate feet and the strength to pull a plough — perhaps not the qualities you’d associate with an athletic racehorse.

But Lingfield Park in Surrey is hosting its first ever shire race to raise awareness for the endangered breed, which is on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s “at risk” list, because there are so few breeding mares.

The Flying Feathers race will take place on 15 June, as part of Lingfield’s annual Countryside Raceday.

Up to eight shires — standing between 17.3-18.2hh and weighing up to 1,100kg — will race on the all-weather track over a distance of two furlongs, ridden by professional jump jockeys.

“Heavy horses are always shown working or ploughing — society doesn’t see them as ridden horses, which is why they’re in decline,” said Sonia Hayles at Hurst Green Shires, the centre providing the horses.

“We want to change people’s opinion of the breed,” she said, adding that the horses are having extra hacking in preparation for their big day.

David Crosse is one of the jockeys taking part.

“I was surprised how nimble they are — in a much slower way, of course,” he said after a practice, where he needed to use a stepladder to mount.

“I can’t wait for the race — it will be quite a sight.”

Each horse will be sponsored by a local company, with money going towards the Countryside Alliance Foundation, the CA’s educational programme. And punters will have the chance to place a bet on their favourite gentle giant.

Nicky Adams at Lingfield said the horses were “the most well-behaved creatures” during the trial.

“Obviously, they are very different to thoroughbreds, but they adapted really well.”

Next stop Royal Ascot?

Visit www.lingfield-racecourse.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (2 May 2013)

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Buyers have scooped up all 10,000tonne of Lingfield Park racecourse’s old Polytrack all-weather surface.

The 11-year-old used surface, at £40 a tonne, sold out in only a few weeks. It was snapped up by 25 private buyers, mostly from the racing industry.

The original Lingfield Polytrack served 11 full winter seasons, but Arena Racing Company, which owns Lingfield, found there was a keen second-hand market.

Buyers included trainers Mark Johnston, Marco Botti, Bob Champion and Fontwell racecourse, with about 300tonne donated to The Horse Trust at Princes Risborough.

Jockey Club Estates bought 750tonne for the public gallops on Newmarket Heath.

Training grounds manager Nick Patton said it will be used at the start of the existing Polytrack gallops, which usually need replacing every 18 months due to soiling from horses waiting to canter.

In 2001, Lingfield was the

[[ strong.first racecourse to install the waxed surface ]] . It is now used at 17 other tracks around the world.

Martin Collins, who invented the surface, told H&H: “In 2001 it was unknown territory; I suggested to Lingfield that it might need replacing after six years — yet it went on to service 11 seasons of racing several times a week, and with minimal maintenance,” he added.

Racing on Lingfield’s new Polytrack started on 17 October and the surface was well received by jockeys.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (1 November 2012)

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Fancy resurfacing your arena or gallops with an Olympic-grade surface or Polytrak? Then bargains may be had – but you need to move fast.

The 10,000tonnes of Andrews Bowen surface used during the Olympics at Greenwich is being sold off after the Games.

And Lingfield racecourse is selling off its Martin Collins surface in September.

Andrews Bowen and Lingfield say they have had a large number of enquiries already, so anyone hoping to invest needs to be quick.

Speaking before the first day of the equestrian competition at Greenwich, David Andrews of Andrews Bowen said: “We have two surfaces at Greenwich, our Prowax surface and the 2012, which we developed for the Games and have used in the main arena.

“We have had a lot of interest from people who want to buy what will be an almost brand-new surface, but some is left.”

Both surfaces will cost £100 per tonne second-hand.

The 2012 surface – which FEI expert Professor Lars Roepstorff described as the “most consistent” he has ever tested – will be added to the Andrews Bowen range.

Mr Andrews said he was not concerned that selling the second-hand surface would have an impact on new orders.

The other used surface on the market is 9,000tonnes of Martin Collins Polytrak installed at Lingfield Park in 2001.

The all-weather track is getting a new Polytrak surface – costing around £3million – so the 11-year-old track, which could also be used in an arena, is being sold off.

Lingfield spokesman Kate Hills said: “A significant portion will be used on gallops and schools locally, but we are still looking for buyers for the remainder.”

She said it will cost around £40 plus vat per tonne, with discounts for quantity.

“The surface is still in super condition,” added Ms Hills.

Martin Collins said: “We were obviously aware that there would be an increase in second-hand material on the market around September.

“However, new sales don’t appear to be adversely affected. We have increased production at our Lambourn and Cheshire plants to meet demand.”

If you are interested in buying either surface, contact Lingfield racecourse, tel: 01342 834800 or Andrews Bowen, tel: 01995 672103.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (10 August 2012)

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H&H head of news Abi Butcher was pipped to the post in the Hunter’s Challenge charity race at Lingfield yesterday.

Abi and her own Hawkstar Express ran in second to race winner Libby Lawson of the East Kent Hunt, on her husband Chris’s Ivory Fair.

Libby, who was recently appointed joint-master of the East Kent, has ridden in point-to-points and ran in last year’s Newmarket Town Plate.

“I tried to stay out of trouble but gave us too much to do at the end,” said Abi, who was representing the Kent & Surrey Draghounds and finished within a length of the winner.

“I am disappointed not to win, but happy my horse finished in one piece.”

The inaugural Hunter’s Challenge involved nine runners from six hunts, racing over a mile on the all-weather track at the Surrey racecourse.

Open to amateur horses and riders who hunted last season, the flat race raised over £5,000 for the Countryside Alliance Foundation.

The race was started by Bob Champion who stopped off en route as part of his 60:60 Challenge to visit 60 racecourses in 60 consecutive days.

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Hunt regulars will be trying a different challenge next month — a race on the flat at Lingfield Park Racecourse.

The inaugural “Hunter’s Challenge” on 3 June is for amateur riders and horses who have hunted last season. Run over a mile on the all-weather track, the race is part of Lingfield’s Countryside Day, to raise money for the Countryside Alliance.

Riders from six local hunts are taking part, including H&H’s head of news, Abigail Butcher — a regular with the Kent & Surrey Bloodhounds — and Danny Eades, amateur whipper-in with the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent.

This is Abi’s third charity race, and she is competing on her own Hawkstar Express (Porky — pictured), a horse she raced at Goodwood in October 2008 in aid of Spinal Research.

“Porky came out of training with James Boyle in January 2009, and we’ve been doing some careful re-training since then — including a few days out with the bloodhounds over the winter — so I’m hoping his return to the track doesn’t confuse him,” said Abi.

“But despite training quite hard over the past few weeks, he’s still as chilled as anything and is loving it!”

The pair are hoping to improve on their third placing at Goodwood.

Also racing on Thursday, 3 June are: Michael McLoughlin (Highway Robbery) from the Mid Surrey Drag, Suzie Russell (Kayf Zsar) from the Southdown and Eridge, Libby Lawson (Ivory Fair) from the East Kent, Frances Beach (Kilkenny Sheriff) from the Ashford Valley and Kass Court (Maid of Arc), Amanda Soper (L’Etang Bleu) and Valerie Evans (Classic Pirouette) — all from the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent.

The Hunter’s Challenge will be started by Bob Champion, who will be at Lingfield as part of his 60:60 Challenge — to visit 60 racecourses in 60 consecutive days.

The Countryside Day will also feature hound parades, terrier and ferret racing — plus a full day’s racecard. Tickets start at £13, visit www.lingfield-racecourse.co.uk

H&H has a tickets to give away to the event — click here for more details.

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An angry owner who punched six-times champion jockey Kieren Fallon has been fined £10,000 and given a three-month ban.

David Reynolds was found guilty of violent conduct and bringing the sport into disrepute at a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) hearing in London on Monday 29 March.

Mr Reynolds stuck Mr Fallon in the unsaddling area at Lingfield Park on 20 March after Fallon’s ride Elna Bright bumped The Scorching Wind, owned by Mr Reynolds.

The Scorching Wind finished 9th and Mr Reynolds believed that Fallon was to blame for the defeat. The stewards later found the interference to have been accidental.

Mr Reynolds also hit Elna Bright’s owner Peter Crate.

At the hearing Mr Reynolds’s solicitor read a statement saying he “deeply regretted” the incident and had tried to contact Mr Fallon to apologise in person.

The Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Kevin Darley said: “We are very pleased that the BHA has dealt with this matter swiftly and that it has been made clear that such behaviour towards jockeys is completely unacceptable.

“We hope and believe that this was an isolated incident; however, there can be no repetition. One of the most attractive aspects of our sport is that spectators can get close to the participants.

“Jockeys welcome this and the relationship that we have with the racing public. We would not want this to be jeopardised.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now