Latest from Horse & Hound in National-horseracing-museum

£50,000 reward offered after trophies stolen from National Horseracing Museum

Becky Murray — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:36:08 +0000

A £50,000 reward has been offered for information on the “calculated and heartless” theft of trophies from the National Horseracing Museum.

Thieves targeted the Newmarket-based museum, home to historical racing artwork, memorabilia and scientific artefacts, at around 4am on 8 May.

A spokesman for the museum said the alarm system was triggered and while the residential security team disturbed the thieves, who were on the premises for less than two minutes, they stole several large trophies.

“We are greatly saddened by the calculated and heartless raid. At a time when we are supposed to be standing together to resist the pandemic it is doubly disappointing,” said Steven Parissien, the museum’s chief executive.

“This raid by professional art thieves won’t stop us in the least, but it shows how little regard criminals have for community and history.”

Insurers Fine Art Specie Adjusters have offered a reward of up to £50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves, subject to certain criteria being met.

The spokesman said “on a brighter note” the museum is reopening at the end of the month with a number of new additions including expansion of its family-friendly and picnic areas.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘I’ll really miss race-riding’: history-making jockey steps down with baby announcement

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Record-breaking trainer Aidan O’Brien dominates both the Derby and Oaks

It was a super Saturday for the Aidan O’Brien yard

“We are very much looking forward to launching the museum as a unique Newmarket community resource boasting a new identity, new catering outlets, and a continued presence in our arena of the Retraining of Racehorses charity,” he said.

He added the museum is launching its first standalone exhibition on dogs in art, The Good Companions, with complementary exhibitions including a family dog day planned on 19 September.

Anyone with information relating to the robbery or on the stolen trophies is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Newmarket races the Tate for prestigious prize

Lucy Elder — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:58:45 +0000

Newmarket’s finest is taking on the Tate Modern in a race to a £100,000 prestigious prize.

The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art is one of five museums shortlisted for the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017.

This is one of the largest prizes for museums in the world and previous winners include the V&A, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Tate Britain.

The Newmarket centre, which was officially opened by The Queen in November, is the first sporting museum to be a finalist for the prize.

The other four on the list are the Tate Modern, London; The Lapworth Museum of Geology, Birmingham; Sir John Soane’s Museum, London; and The Helpworth Wakefield, Yorkshire.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Chris Garibaldi, director of the National Heritage Centre, said the museum is “thrilled and indeed honoured” to have been chosen as a finalist.

“It is recognition of so much hard work on the part of our fantastic staff, volunteers, trustees and the many supporters who have put their faith in the project over many years,” he said.

“The redevelopment project has resulted in the creation of a world-class tourist attraction in the new National Heritage Centre that has been transformational for Newmarket.

“We are about putting the community at the heart of everything we do and celebrating what makes our town and sporting industry unique.”

The winner will be revealed at the British Museum on 5 July and all four runners-up will receive £10,000.

Art Fund is asking visitors to the five finalists to share their best museum stories, reviews, photos and memories.

This can be done by emailing ami.cosgrave@nhrm.co.uk or on social media, using the hashtag #museumoftheyear and tagging the museum in via the relevant handle: Facebook @palacehousenkt Twitter @palacehouse_nkt or Instagram @palacehouse_nkt

Before opening in its new home, in the remains of Charles II 17th century sporting palace and stables, the museum was based in Newmarket High Street.

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Life after racing: new film showcases versatility of ex-racers

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Mystery horse skeleton discovered during excavation of royal stables

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Hazel Courtley, community engagement and volunteering manager at the centre, said more than 200 people from the area have helped the museum move to its new base over the past two years.

“These volunteers have packed over 10,000 objects, cleaned items ready for display and raised awareness of the new heritage centre,” she said.

“[They have also] welcomed visitors from the very first day of opening, cared for horses and helped out at events, in the shop and at education workshops.

“They have been so enthusiastic and supportive, donating over 7,000 hours of their free time to make the heritage centre a success.

“Winning this award would be a fantastic way to say thank you to all of these amazing people.”

(Image credit: Palace House Newmarket)

Briony Jackson, science learning and participation curator, said the live horses in the Retraining of Racehorses area give the public to get “closer to a racehorse than they can anywhere else”.

The centre has a ever-changing selection of ex-racehorses at its on-site yard and visitors can watch them ridden in an arena as part of their retraining.

Curator Graham Snelling added the creation of the new centre has been “a process of listening and learning”.

“The end result has been a heritage centre that will continue to develop,” he said.

“By engaging with visitors and the local community, we will ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn and benefit from their experience — but above all have fun and feel very much part of our continued exciting journey.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Life after racing: new film showcases versatility of ex-racers

Lucy Elder — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 06:02:03 +0000

A new film showcasing former racehorses’ adaptability has been launched to tie in with the start of the Flat season.

Shot in Newmarket by Equine Productions and featuring a voiceover by Clare Balding, the film is being screened at Palace House, the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art.

“Retraining of Racehorses is British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of racehorses who have retired from racing,” explains Clare.

“These wonderful animals can put their intelligent minds to so many different pursuits. These are just some of them.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The camera then cuts to ex-racers who demonstrate their new careers of showing, eventing, showjumping, dressage and polo.

Her Majesty The Queen’s horse Quadrille is among the equine stars.

His earnings topped £42,000 on the track during his two-year Flat racing career and he is now competing at prix st georges-level dressage with Louise Robson.

It was Louise who retrained the now 10-year-old gelding and she frequently holds Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) clinics at Palace House.

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Novice eventer Daredevil Boy, ridden by Kelly Harrison, is shown jumping in the artistic film.

Also featured is Indiana Gold, ridden by Mairi Wilson, who is enjoying his second career in the show ring.

Visitors to the National Heritage Centre will also be able to see the training of selected ex-racers in action.

Daily RoR demonstrations take place in the Peter O’Sullevan Arena and current equine residents include Injun Sands, who looks set for a future career in the show ring, and Noble Silk.

Injun Sands, a six-year-old formerly trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, ran 13 times and notched up two all-weather wins. Meanwhile, the Lucy Wadham-trained Noble Silk won four of his 35 starts during his five-year racing career and earned a total of £75,742.

The centre is open daily from 10am-5pm, and from 9am during sales and racing days in Newmarket during April and May.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Mystery horse skeleton discovered during excavation of royal stables

Sophia Heath — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 11:55:07 +0000

A solitary horse skeleton — which is thought be several centuries old — has been discovered after excavations at Charles II’s Palace House in Newmarket earlier this month.

Palace House was built by Charles II in the 17th century, as a grand residence allowing him to be as close as possible to his beloved racehorses. The skeleton was found in the Rothschild Yard, built by Leopold de Rothschild in 1903 as an extension to the Kings Yard.

The skeleton was uncovered during construction works for redevelopment of the site for the new National Heritage Centre for Horse Racing and Sporting Art, due to open in early 2016. It is believed by historians that it could have been interred as long ago as 1750.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is speculation that the horses position — underneath the outdoor yard — could indicate that he was a special favourite of the King. The skeleton has a smashed skull and pelvis and is estimated to have died at around the age of 18.

Some archaeologists have also suggested that it could be the skeleton of legendary 19th century stallion Doctors Syntax whose body has never been discovered.

Chris Faine of Oxford Archaeology, which is currently holding the skeleton for conservation, said: “While the date of the burial is uncertain, pottery fragments found underneath it date back to the 1750s.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“The skull was heavily smashed so we cannot assess exact cause of death. It may have been put to sleep humanely although based on the evidence that we have, we can’t be sure”.

Briony Jackson, science learning and participation officer at the National Horseracing Museum added: “We are delighted to find the skeleton and would like to thank Alison Schwabe, a vet from Cambridge Veterinary School, and Mim Bower, post-doctoral researcher in Archaeogenetics at Cambridge University, for their contribution to determining the information we have to date and would be delighted to hear from anyone who might be able to help us further in the identification of the horse”.

The National Horse Racing Museum can be contacted on 01638 667333.

New home for National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket

Horse & Hound — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:43:01 +0000

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A £12.8million horse-themed attraction for Newmarket is on the cusp of being developed after 10 years’ planning.

Work starts this autumn on Palace House Stables, transforming the site of a former court of King Charles II into a new home for the National Horseracing Museum.

It will also house collections of the British Sporting Art Trust, act as a new shop window for Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and include restaurants – to boost Newmarket’s tourist trade on non-racing days.

The Home of Horseracing Trust has raised £7.5m to date to fund the project, including £4.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. With other grants, it is now £2m away from the fundraising target.

National Horseracing Museum director Chris Garibaldi said: “There is currently room for a fraction of the exhibits at the museum.

“We hope the restoration will provide focal point for tourists to Newmarket town centre, which has lost some character with the arrival of so many national chain stores.”

Charles II built Newmarket Palace, to the east of what is now the high street, in 1671.

But the Italianate villa now known as Palace House – currently a conference centre – the derelict trainer’s house, two large stable yards and paddock are all that remains.

The new racing museum alone will be three times larger than the current one and will take 2 ½ years to complete.

The RoR project will occupy the rear yard and have a revolving equine guest list, including big names, on show to the public.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (5 April)

Richard Dunwoody to host book signing in Newmarket

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:31:06 +0000

Richard Dunwoody fans will be able to meet their hero next month as the former three-time champion jockey hosts a signing of his new book.

Richard will be heading to Newmarket on Tuesday 1 December to sign copies of Method In My Madness: 10 Years Out of the Saddle, at the National Horseracing Museum.

Visitors will be able to buy the book at the museum entrance for an all inclusive price of £20 which will include access to the museum, and a £2.50 donation to Racing Welfare.

Method In My Madness details Richards adventures since he hung up his boots — including his journeys to the Arctic, Antarctic, walking 1,000miles in 1,000 hours and taking to the Strictly Come Dancing floor.

The book signing will take place from 12-2pm.

Sir Alfred Munnings exhibition opens

Horse & Hound — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:15:03 +0000

Over 80 paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings have gone on display at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket (2 April).

Widely regarded as one of the foremost equestrian painters of the 20th century, Munnings’ work sells for huge prices internationally.

The exhibition, which runs until 4 November, features paintings, oil studies and sketches and provides a fascinating inside into Munnings’ life and artistic technique.

Photographs of Munnings’ early life and family, never before seen by the public, are also included in the exhibition.

“This is a rare opportunity to learn of Sir Alfred Munnings life story alongside some fine examples of his work,” said museum acting director Graham Snelling.

For more information contact the National Horseracing Museum, 99 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JH or (tel: 01638 667333).