Ludlow Racecourse, or ‘Lovely Ludlow’ as it is commonly referred to, is a UK racecourse found just north of Ludlow in Shropshire, England. With views of Clee Hill, Ludlow Racecourse is, without a doubt, one of the most picturesque racing venues.

Hosting 16 meetings a year (from October to May), the thoroughbred horse racing venue consists of two tracks; one hurdle and one steeplechase.

The course is steeped in history. Rumour has it that competitive equine activity began in the area as early as the 14th Century when British soldiers used to pit their horses against each other. The first officially recorded race at the venue came much later in 1725, with exciting racing meets hosted by Ludlow Racecourse ever since.

As a relatively small venue with a local following, there are no real stand-out events. That said, many eagerly await the running of the Forbra Gold Challenge Cup; a handicap chase run over a distance of three miles. The event is reserved for horses 5 years and older and boasts a purse of around £20,000. With the course comprising 19 fences, this is a race where participating horses must prove both their stamina and jumping ability.

The Forbra Gold Challenge Cup takes place every March and pays homage to Forbra, the winner of the 1932 Grand National. As a rank outsider priced at 50/1, Forbra is somewhat of a cult hero.

Recent winners of this Ludlow event include Marcilhac (2017), Tommy Silver (2019) and Head to the Stars (2020, 2021).