Record-breaking RoR National Championships celebrate the very best of life after racing

A record-breaking 350 former racehorses were registered to compete at this year’s The Jockey Club RoR National Championships at Aintree, showcasing the extraordinary versatility and adaptability of the Thoroughbred and celebrating all that life after racing can offer.

The six-day Championships, held at Aintree Equestrian Centre from 18 to 23 August, attracted record entries across several disciplines, including 541 dressage entries and 269 jumping entries across showjumping and arena eventing.

Among the headline winners were Eve Nicholls, who partnered Falloway Dubreau to take victory in the prestigious Tattersalls RoR Ridden Showing Supreme Championship, while Stella Bunn and Evron claimed the Hot to Trot Racing RoR Elite Performance Award for Dressage Championship.

The Championships also marked the end of two remarkable second careers. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Hannah Chisman removed First Fandango’s saddle for the final time, bringing to a close the competitive career of the 2023 RoR Horse of the Year at the age of 19. Also retiring was Sophie Kington’s 22-year-old Amroth Bay, a two-time National Championships winner and nominee for the 2025 RoR Horse of the Year.

Veteran former racehorses were strongly represented throughout the Championships, with more than 82 veteran entries across dressage, ridden showing and in-hand showing, demonstrating the active and fulfilling lives former racehorses can enjoy long after their racing careers have ended.

The Championships also celebrated some of racing’s most recognisable former stars through the Always a Star Parades, kindly supported by Great British Racing. Featuring horses competing at Aintree who earned more than £100,000 during their racing careers, the parades gave spectators the opportunity to see these familiar names thriving in their next chapter.

Another much-loved feature of the Championships, the Gemma Potts Glamour Stakes, once again brought plenty of fun to Aintree, with Top Line Tommy and Anna W taking this year’s title.

The independent Welfare Stewarding Group, engaged by RoR to support welfare standards at the Winter and National Championships, reported a significant and encouraging improvement in standards this year. Competitors demonstrated many examples of positive horsemanship and strong partnerships with their horses, alongside particularly good engagement with RoR’s suitably mounted initiative. A large proportion of those taking part achieved the recommended 17% rider-to-horse weight ratio and received certificates, while good horsemanship rosettes recognised riders who stood out for the kindness, consideration and understanding they showed towards their horses. 

The group said the progress was a positive sign that continued education, collaboration and encouragement are helping to keep horse welfare at the heart of the RoR community.

Away from the competition arenas, the Championships also played host to RoR’s first event as part of National Racehorse Week, welcoming 30 guests to Aintree to learn more about the charity’s work and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at one of British racing’s most iconic racecourses.

David Catlow, Managing Director of Retraining of Racehorses, said: “The National Championships are, of course, about far more than results and rosettes. They are about taking part, trying something new, celebrating progress and being part of a community united by a huge affection and respect for the former racehorse.

“With 350 horses entered to take part this year, it was wonderful to see the sheer breadth of what life after racing can look like. From horses and riders competing at the highest level to those having a go at something new.

“For RoR, success is not simply what happens in the competition arena. It is seeing former racehorses happy, healthy, well cared for and enjoying fulfilling lives after racing, whatever their second career may look like.”