THE last race meeting of the season, is always run for charity, which this year is Leominster Community Hospital, where one of the drivers from a fall earlier in the season is recovering. The charity meeting is party-time, to celebrate the end of the season, to evaluate, and start to plan for 2027, writes Maureen Lloyd.

The main races are straight races so that the horses can run in the fun end of the day.

The first Novice race was won by Manhattan Gangster driven by Morgan Wolfe for the successful Munro stable from Bridgend. In second was Sonny Camden (Millard, Stourbridge) while Begwyns Trust (Lloyd, Painscastle) came in third.

The retiring Matteuceous driven by trainer Dai Arrowsmith for Tracey Gale from Gorslas gave her a joyful retiring final run in he second race, ahead of Mahogany Frankie (Munro, Bridgend) while the lightly raced veteran, Afanbellesprincess and Oli Jones from Cribyn was third.

Glenfield Thomas has had a good season, and finished by winning the Grade B driven as usual by Mathew Tromans for owner Gary Billington.

In the Grade A Finn Bevan partnered Fold Megastar to claim an emphatic win for the Perks family from Presteigne in front of Mathew Tromans from Newcastle Emlyn on his own Zulu Warrior, Fold Fearless the other entry from the Perks stable was third.

Isolation claimed a win in the Baby Novice race, driven this week by Steve Williams for Elizabeth Collingwood from Huntington.

After the break with entertainment provided by children’s races, humans pulling sulkies, as well as some driven cobs of several varieties, organised by John Perks, the fun races of the afternoon began.

The first was the Junior race, which is taken very seriously by the competitors and with five entries there was plenty for the public to cheer.

First was the very experienced Jacob Bird on his mother’s superb Fold Megastar, the horse which has been a star for the Perks stable again this year.

In second was Lexie Millard driving grandad’s Sonny Camden (Millard, Stourbridge) with Evie Davies on grandmother’s Wye Doon (Hawkes, Orleton) in third, Afanbellsprincess with Miley Jones from Cribyn was fourth.

The next race was the reverse race, this is where the horses race the ‘wrong way round’ or anti-clockwise. Some adapt to this while others prefer normality, Manhattan Gangster with Morgan Wolfe on board for the Munro team from Bridgend was first, claiming their second win of the day, next was Rhyds Louie (Millard, Stourbridge) while Red Cash (Sargeant, Newbridge) was third.

In the dash Sealofapproval with owner trainer Jimmy Munro from Bridgend in the seat won a narrow victory from Lucifer (Robin Lloyd, Painscastle) with long time leader Carrie on Fred (Middleton, Llandrindod) holding on to third.

The last race of the season was the non drivers in which those looking from the sidelines, or caring for the horses, have their chance to ‘strut their stuff’.

It was ex-driver/jockey Glyn Slade Jones aboard Evenwood Itchyfeet (Mills, Llanddewi) who proved racing horses, is just like riding a bike, you never forget, winning in style. In second was Beach Boy with another driver with past experience Richard Staples from Brecon while Laura Bevan, more often seen in the saddle than in the cart, driving aunt Jayne Bevan’s Full Closure was third.