Pigeon racing is a timed competition where homing pigeons are transported to a designated release point and liberated simultaneously to return to their home loft. The performance of each bird is evaluated by calculating its velocity, derived from the distance travelled divided by the flight duration. This velocity, expressed in yards per minute, determines the ranking, with the highest velocity securing the victory. 

Prior to a race, participating pigeons are entered by their owners through a local club or federation. Each bird must wear a unique identification ring, typically an official leg ring issued by the national body, such as the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA), North West Homing Union (NWHU), North East Homing Union (NEHU), Welsh Homing Union (WHU), Scottish Homing Union (SHU) in the UK or the Koninklijke Belgische Duivenbond (KBDB) in Belgium. Birds will also be fitted with an electronic transponder for automated detection as this supersedes the old rubber band method. On the evening before the race, birds are collected at a centralised basketing point, where they are placed in secure transport baskets. Owners verify entries via a digital clocking system, recording the bird’s ring number and assigning it to the race. Basketing enforces a standardised timeline, with birds held overnight under controlled conditions to minimise stress.

The basketed pigeons are conveyed by specialised vehicles to the liberation site, selected based on the race’s designated distance—ranging from 100 miles for training flights to over 600 miles for international classics. In Belgium, where logistical precision is paramount, transporters adhere to strict protocols: vehicles maintain optimal temperature (15-20°C), ventilation, and minimal vibration to preserve bird condition. In the UK the transporters are less likely to be climate controlled. The distance from each loft to the release point is measured precisely using Long/Lat and/or GPS coordinates, forming the basis for velocity computation. For amalgamation races, multiple transporters may converge at a single site to aggregate birds from hundreds of lofts. 

Liberation is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time although weather conditions and other factors may cause this to change on the day. The liberator (convoyer) opens the baskets in unison, allowing the flock to ascend and orient. Pigeons immediately ascend to gain altitude, before establishing their homing vector. It is thought navigation relies on a multifaceted system: solar compass for directional cues, geomagnetic field detection for coarse positioning, olfactory landmarks for refinement, and visual topography for final approach. Belgian breeding lines emphasise birds with superior orientation, honed through selective pairing of proven racers. Flight speeds average 900-1100 yards per minute in calm conditions, with elite performers exceeding 1300 yards per minute. Environmental factors—headwinds reducing velocity by up to 20%, or tailwinds enhancing it to over 2000 yards per minute.

Upon nearing the loft, the pigeon enters through a specialised trap door equipped with an antenna that detects the transponder signal. This triggers an electronic timer, stamping the arrival to within 0.01 seconds. In traditional setups, still used in some Belgian contexts for verification, a manual clock is activated by inserting the bird’s rubber ring. The flight time is the interval from liberation timestamp to clocking timestamp. Should a bird fail to return within a set window (typically 24-48 hours, depending on distance), it is marked lost, though recovery of late birds is possible.

Post-race, the federation compiles all clocked times and computes velocities using the formula:  

\[ v = \frac{d}{t} \times 60 \]  

where \( v \) is velocity in yards per minute, \( d \) is the precise distance in yards, and \( t \) is flight time in minutes. Results are published hierarchically by velocity, then by position within age/sex categories (old cocks, old hens, yearlings, etc.). Prizes are allocated via a pool system.

Competitions are stratified by distance: short (50-150 miles), middle (150-350 miles), and long (350+ miles), with separate series for young birds (under one year) to foster development. Racing usually begins in April and ends in September, escalating in distance to build endurance. Training tosses precede competitive events, mirroring race protocols at incremental ranges (5-80 miles) to condition birds without fatigue.