As I write this I am pleased to report that a record number of horses have been entered for the races. This makes for an even better than hoped for event. However there has been some interesting news from some of the local stables which I felt I needed to share with you.

Following a recent veterinary health inspection at a North Luffenham Stud, the county’s leading racing Shetland Pony has been rule out of the forthcoming race night with a mystery long term illness. The stud had requested the veterinary visit as Shetland Shifter had been noted to have a very, very sore inflamed throat resulting in a hacking cough. The result of the visit was that the vet immediately ruled Shetland Shifter out of any racing for the foreseeable future with a mystery illness that currently he is unable to diagnose accurately. In making this ruling the vet commented, “I cannot be sure exactly what is wrong with Shetland Shifter but is is patently clear from examining her that she is a little horse!”

We have also had photographic evidence sent to us of another horse due to race who is currently recovering from surgery. The secretly taken photograph, shown below would seem to suggest that the outcome of the operation may not be entirely satisfactory!

Don’t forget, tickets for this great event are available from The Fox or from the people named on the posters that are posted throughout the village.

It really is going to be a fantastic evening, so don’t miss out, make sure you secure your tickets before they run out and then watch this space for more updates!!

We are hosting an extra special open meeting on Wednesday 25th February with a special guest speaker – BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost. We are extremely excited to welcome him to our Club and are very much looking forward to his talk, ‘How I Garden’. 
The event will take place in North Luffenham School Hall and doors open promptly at 7pm.

Please do join us for an inspirational talk, refreshments (tea, coffee & wine available to buy) & our extraordinary raffle to make it a really memorable night.

A limited number of tickets are now available to buy from The Fox, North Luffenham for just £27.50 per person (cash only please).

As you will probably know, the scheduled Uppingham <> Stamford R5 bus was replaced by an “On Demand” CallConnect Bus service (although there is still a scheduled bus 3x a day during school term time)

Bus timetable – Bland’s R5 | Rutland County Council

Users of CallConnect are encouraged to book via the app

Callconnect | Rutland County Council

However for users who are not able to use the app, you can also call the booking team on 03452343344 and they will arrange your journey.

Given the interest shown by so many of you for this fantastic upcoming event on Saturday 7th March I thought, in the light of the recent downpours and the ground becoming so waterlogged, that you might be interested in knowing what has happened to the training routines of some of the competitors. Clearly the jockeys and stable hands are taking this event very seriously and have taken to using alternative training methods given everywhere is so wet.

The team training Nobbled Nag found their stable underwater and so have resorted to water polo methods of training, a tried and trusted method for training horses!

Here we see Nobbled Nag and his stablemates at a recent training camp!

And we also have a picture taken secretly at a training facility just outside Empingham following an arduous swim in the swollen River Chater by Equine Enchantress and her hapless stablemate Cunning Fox

Don’t forget, tickets are available from The Fox or from those people named on the posters around the village. Either pop in to The Fox or give one of these lovely people a ring and they will be able to provide you with your tickets to one of the very best race meetings to be held in the UK this year!

Act soon – time is galloping away!

Mid January, dark days and long nights! Is there no end to the gloom?

YES there is! The North Luffenham Fun Club is very pleased to announce the first North Luffenham fun event of 2026. The North Luffenham Race Night to be held in the School Hall on 7th March.

This is going to be an evening of fun and games for the whole community (over 18’s only at this event to comply with legal requirements) . A series of races with tote including the ultimate pig race. These races will be accompanied by other interval games. A guaranteed fun filled evening to drive away the winter blues and usher in Springtime. There is also a licensed bar. Tickets cost £10 and included in that price is your first drink! Posters around the village (and at the bottom of this message) tell you who you can contact to buy your tickets. Tickets can also be bought from The Fox, so just pop in and ask at the Bar. What an excuse to visit the pub in Dry January!

Tickets are proving popular so don’t delay.

Like the pantomime, these fun events are aimed at all North Luffenham villagers, so why not end January with a bang and pick up your tickets for this fun filled event. See you there!

One of the horses currently in training for the big event!