News

11 May 2025 RACE REPORTS

Small fields blight evening card

The dry Spring is playing merry hell with the early season Jump fixtures, producing a spate of small fields. Just 31 runners stood their ground for Stratford's Thursday evening fixture, that after...

13 Apr 2025 RACE REPORTS

Matt Sheppard reaches best ever season with Pottlerath

The prolonged dry spell is playing havoc with field sizes, albeit it hasn't prevented Champion Trainer contender Dan Skelton sending runners far and wide in defence of his challenge against Willie...

30 Mar 2025 RACE REPORTS

"Get close to the action, " they said as drama is not restricted to the track

There's a racing adage that the sport allows you to get close up to the action, mingling among the jockeys and trainers, or watching from a fence, unlike some stadium - based sports. Stratford...

10 Mar 2025 RACE REPORTS

Just the Doctor's orders for McManus Festival aperitif

The talk may all be of Cheltenham, but we were flying our own flag at Stratford this afternoon, getting the season underway again after a wet winter that continues to play havoc with course...

1 Nov 2024 RACE REPORTS

A day of firsts and a return to winning ways for claimer McConville

The Jumps season is winding up considerably, and this is amply demonstrated by the higher volume of runners and some well-regarded horses for this closing fixture of the 2024 season. 76 runners...

20 Oct 2024 RACE REPORTS

Gender equality at Stratford as honours are shared evenly

Continuous rain on the previous Friday conspired to deliver heavy ground at Stratford's penultimate fixture, where 64 runners contested the seven races under bright autumn sunshine.

9 Oct 2024 RACE REPORTS

Williams pair deny Skelton double

With Stratford's season drawing to a close, there's further evidence of the top yards flexing their muscles as their autumn and winter horses enjoy a first outing. The unseasonably wet weather this...

9 Sep 2024 RACE REPORTS

Roaring Legend adds to reputation

Spectators might have been forgiven for thinking they'd been sold short at Stratford on Saturday, when the card was restricted to the scheduled 6 races for the first time in several fixtures. As the...

29 Aug 2024 RACE REPORTS

Skelton continues to set a fierce pace

Stratford's summer season is enjoying unseasonably large fields as the BHA's reduction in the volume of races has led to near safety factor fields on meeting after meeting. This final evening fixture...