The Jockey Club’s Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championships will take place at Aintree International Equestrian Centre from 18 to 23 August 2026. This six-day event features classes in showing, dressage, and jumping, along with two evening performances. It serves as the major UK championship for retrained thoroughbreds, with qualification criteria for participants.
Retrained racehorses have numerous opportunities to compete across disciplines in the UK, with the RoR National Championships standing as the premier event. Held at the prestigious Aintree International Equestrian Centre in Merseyside, the 2026 edition spans six days and includes competitions in showing, dressage, and jumping. Evening performances add to the spectacle, attracting riders and spectators to see former thoroughbreds in their second careers.
Qualification varies by discipline. For dressage, RoR members qualify from 1 February by submitting two scoresheets meeting minimum percentages (60% to 65%, depending on level) from affiliated or unaffiliated competitions. Regional championships, such as those at Allens Hill in Worcestershire on 2 May or Myerscough College in Lancashire on 14 June, lead to the nationals. Levels range from intro to special.
In showjumping, open classes at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm, and 1m require RoR competition registration but no prior qualification. These follow British Showjumping rules. Showing classes culminate from series like the Tattersalls RoR Show Series, with qualifiers from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026 determining entries, including a veteran category for horses aged 15 and over.
The championships highlight the adaptability of ex-racehorses, often described as bold, athletic, and stamina-filled. Prestigious venues like Aintree, Hickstead, and Horse of the Year Show host finals, offering prizes and recognition. Riders can register via the RoR website for leagues and series that feed into these events, emphasizing grassroots progression to national level.
