On 2nd September, I led a Westminster Hall Debate on the regulation of pony and trap racing on public roads, an issue which has impacted my constituents regularly for a number of years. In fact, since 2020, Thames Valley Police confirmed that there have been 200 incidents connected to pony and trap racing in our part of Buckinghamshire alone.
Pony and trap racing, also known as ‘sulky racing’ is a form of horse racing where two wheeled carts, pulled by a single pony, thunder down stretches of public roads. These events either involve multiple traps (carts) racing against each other, or single traps completing a time trial.
The A413 between Chalfont St Peter and Gerrards Cross, a stretch of busy dual carriageway, regularly becomes an unauthorised racetrack. As well as the competitors, there are spectators who gather to watch the races and place bets on the outcome.
As the races take place, support vehicles follow the pony and trap. These are usually larger vehicles, either 4×4’s or pickup trucks, sometimes with a horsebox in tow. They drive next to each other and block both lanes of the dual carriageway, creating an illegal rolling roadblock to allow the race to take place.
I am regularly contacted by distressed residents detailing their experience of the races. Last month a constituent reported being run off the road twice by the support vehicles. Another shared that their 18 year old daughter was terrified after ending up stuck in the middle of a race.
There is no licensing required for such events; there is no single point of contact to be held accountable for the unacceptable and sometimes dangerous behaviour taking place. Without proper regulation in place, there is high risk of a serious accident, or worse.
To organise a cycling competition or race in the UK using the main roads, there are regulations to follow. There are licences you need to get and authorities to consult. Cycling races are routinely organised safely and with minimum disruption to the community hosting such a race. None of that is true for pony and trap racing.
Apart from the road safety angle – the level of policing time and resources these races require is unacceptable.
Police forces are able to deal with individual offences as they arise, such as dangerous driving. If reports are received ahead of an event, a Section 34 Dispersal Order has previously been issued. Whilst this may give Police powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and to disperse any crowds, it does not prevent the races themselves from taking place.
Changes to the road infrastructure can act as a deterrent. But changing the road layout – at significant cost – simply displaces the activity. This became clear when racing was displaced from Hampshire to South Buckinghamshire. There is a similar issue with the use of Traffic Regulation Orders in terms of the cost to the Local Authority, and the resultant shift in location of any racing events coming within the TRO scope.
I am therefore urging the Government to consider formal regulation for pony and trap racing. I am not seeking for the sport to be banned. Instead I’m calling for a permit or licensing scheme, such as that for cycle racing, to be necessary for those wanting to race ponies and traps.
This would require an organiser to meet certain conditions and to seek permission from the local authority and police to ensure events are well managed. Should there be any issues, a single point of contact could be held accountable.
Police whose resources are regularly deployed to respond to reports of racing, must be better supported to enforce a safe, fair use of the road for all, whilst not penalising those who wish to safely stage legitimate racing events.
The safety of those who use our roads should no longer be put at risk by unregulated pony and trap racing.
The safety of all road users mustn’t be put at risk from unregulated pony and trap racing
