Race meetings
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| The oldest
race meeting still in existence is Llangadog races in Carmarthenshire.
This small village staged their first official races in 1884
when the meeting consisted of galloping, trotting and hurdle racing.
During the late 1800s trotting races were still run along
the roads but as the car took over so racing had to be moved onto
tracks in fields. |
|
programme supplied by Penybont Sports Committee |
Life
in the countryside remained much the same until 1914 with
the outbreak of the First World War. Everything stopped
and it was 1920 before the countryside tried to revert to normal.
The 1920s saw the beginning of a new era in rural entertainment
when shows and sports became much more popular. Trotting became
part of these events and one of the most prestigious race meetings
of today, Penybont Races (Powys) was formed at this time. Penybont
Races was first held in 1921 combining both galloping and trotting
races as well as athletics and providing professional entertainment
between the races. The enterprising committee came up with
their own advertising catchword calling themselves 'The Wembley of
Wales' a title which remains to this day. Llandrindod Wells also
began during the 1920s and these two meetings formed part of the 'Welsh
racing circuit' with Llandrindod on August Bank Holiday Monday (the
first Monday in August) and Penybont on the following Wednesday. The
sport continued to be an important part of the rural fabric with even
small villages holding their own races. During the 1960s and 70s
competition from television and other sports saw the decline of many
of the races, however even today there are on average about 30 race
meetings a year during the summer months in South and Mid Wales. Click here to see present day fixtures |