Watch The July Festival live this week and witness the finest horses and jockeys take centre stage in a celebration of speed, style and atmosphere at Newmarket.

At a glance

• The July Festival date: 9–11 July 2026
• Watch July Festival on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch July Festival from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch The July Festival on TV

ITV will screen some of the action from The Debenhams July Festival live and for free on ITV and ITVX across the three days, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

ITV Racing will broadcast the first four races on Thursday and Friday, as well as the first six on Saturday, while Racing TV will cover every race.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the July Cup?

The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup will run at 4.35pm and will be the sixth of eight races at Newmarket on Saturday 11 July.

How to watch The July Festival from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

The July Festival race times

Races in bold will be shown on ITV.

Thursday 9 July: Ladies’ Day

Friday 10 July: Festival Friday

Saturday 11 July: July Cup Day

What is The July Festival?

Newmarket is the home of British horseracing and The July Meeting dates back to 1765. The July Course itself is known for its intimate, relaxed, and picturesque summer garden-party feel, in contrast to the more formal spring Rowley Mile events.

The pinnacle of the three days is the July Cup, which is recognised as one of the most prestigious sprint races in the world and a highlight of the British racing calendar. The Group 1 Flat race is open to horses aged three years or older and run over 6f.

Many future classic and Group 1 winners first make their mark in juvenile races during the festival.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

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We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

Watch the Guineas this weekend and enjoy the action from the first two Classics of the British Flat racing season.

The big story for this year’s 2,000 Guineas is Billy Loughnane bidding for his first Classics win on Bow Echo, while the 1,000 Guineas belongs to the fillies and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Precise is looking to be an early favourite.

At a glance

• 2,000 Guineas date: 2 May 2026
• 1,000 Guineas date: 3 May 2026
• Watch the Guineas on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch the Guineas from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch the Guineas on TV

ITV will screen much of the action from the Betfred Guineas Festival (including the two feature races) live and for free on ITV1 and ITVX, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the 2,000 Guineas?

The 2,000 Guineas post time is 3.35pm and is the fifth of nine races at Newmarket on Saturday 2 May.

What time is the 1,000 Guineas?

The 1,000 Guineas starts at 3.35pm and is the fourth of seven races at Newmarket on Sunday 3 May.

How to watch the Guineas from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

What are the Guineas?

As the first two Classics of the British Flat racing season, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas are among the most famous horse races in the world.

Run over a mile at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse, the 2,000 Guineas is contested by colts and fillies and the 1,000 Guineas solely by fillies. The two races are limited to three-year-old Thoroughbreds only.

The 2,000 Guineas was first run in 1809, while the inaugural 1,000 Guineas was staged five years later. At the time the races were named after the prize money given to the winner of each – with one guinea amounting to 21 shillings or £1.05.

By the 1860s the Guineas were considered to be two of the most significant races in the UK for three-year-olds and today attract the very best horses of their age in Europe. Often the races highlight potential contenders and winners of the third and fourth Classics of each year, the Derby and Oaks staged at Epsom Downs.

The total prize money for each race is more than £500,000, with the winner of the 2,000 Guineas taking home £297,728, while the winner of the 1,000 Guineas takes home £311,025. The 2,000 Guineas is also the first leg of the Triple Crown, followed by Epsom Derby and St Leger.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

Flat racing fans who want to watch the live action from the Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket (10-12 July) will need to tune into ITV or a free livestream. With eight-and-a-half hours’ live footage on the main ITV channel, ITV Racing will be covering 14 races across the three days of this prestigious meeting, plus there are livestream options to choose from too.

The July Festival plays host to two Group One Flat races; the Falmouth Stakes for fillies and mares on the Friday and the July Cup Stakes on the Saturday.

Cinderella’s Dream is currently 11/4 favourite for the Falmouth Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby and owners Godolphin and will be ridden by William Buick, while Notable Speech is currently 7/2 favourite to take the July Cup Stakes for the same connections.

Here’s our full TV guide so you don’t miss a moment of the action…

ITV and the ITVX streaming service will be showing 14 races from The July Festival for free in the UK. If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ITVX like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

The July Festival on TV: how to watch

ITV is the place for UK audiences to watch the majority of The July Festival for free on ITVX. There is also an ITVX app that works on almost all smart devices. Just search for the app on any device, phone or console you have.

Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani will host the live TV coverage which runs from 1.30pm to 4pm on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 July and between 1.30pm and 5pm on Saturday 12 July.

They will be joined by former jockey and expert Jason Weaver with Adele Mulrennan, plus other top racing names.

The Opening Show will be presented by Oli Bell on the morning of the July Cup Stakes, previewing the day’s big races between 9.30am and 10.30am.

You can also watch the action live via the pay-for channel, Racing TV.

What time does the July Cup Stakes start?

The July Cup Stakes gets underway at 4.35pm on Saturday 12 July.

How to watch The July Festival from anywhere

Not in the UK right now? You don’t have to miss out on any of the action from The July Festival. ITVX is geo-restricted, meaning it doesn’t usually work outside of the UK, but a VPN is a simple and safe way around this.

A Virtual Private Network will alter your device’s IP address to make it appear to be in a different country, allowing you to access your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world. It’s great for watching racing on the move, and it’s also handy even if you’re watching at home. VPNs are designed with internet security in mind, creating encrypted connections that keep your data safe from third parties and improve streaming speeds by preventing bandwidth ‘throttling’ from your internet service provider.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, which is the best VPN in the world according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

How do I bet during The July Festival?

Online betting companies will be clamouring for your custom during The July Festival so look out for some of their promotional deals for new customers which include everything from a free bet to giving your money back if your horse loses. You’ll need to deposit some money into your betting account, choose a race, select your horse (you could study the form, or you could simply pick your lucky number of favourite colour from the jockeys’ silks) and the type of bet — then get ready to cheer!

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Download and install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access – UK for ITV.

3. Then head over to your streaming service on your device and enjoy the live stream.

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The racing community has been rocked again as a man died in a riding accident at a Newmarket racing stable.

The rider was pronounced dead at the scene, at Robert Cowell’s Newmarket yard, on Wednesday (29 March). The previous day, a 25-year-old female employee had collapsed and died at Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire.

Robert told the Racing Post the team was devastated, adding that the man, who had only been there for two or three weeks, was a “very smiley, cheerful person, an accomplished horseman and quickly became a valued member of our small team”.

Robert said his team’s thoughts are with the man’s family and friends.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called at 8.47am yesterday (29 March) with reports a man had fallen from a horse in a field off London Road near Six Mile Bottom. Officers and paramedics attended, but the man died at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious and has been handed to the coroner.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A bronze model of the famous statue of The late Queen with a mare and foal in Newmarket has found a new home with a great supporter of racing and Her Majesty thanks to a family museum visit this summer.

The miniature version of the iconic life-sized statue sold for 165,000 guineas (£173,250) ahead of the first Sceptre session at the Tattersalls December Sales on Monday (28 November), with all proceeds going to the National Horseracing Museum.

The maquette, by Etienne Millner and Charlie Langton, was knocked down to bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont, on behalf of Hong Kong-based owner Marc Chan.

“On behalf of all the staff and volunteers at the National Horseracing Museum we would like to express our enormous thanks to Mr Chan for this huge gesture of support and confidence in the museum,” said museum director, Anne-Marie Hogan.

Only 12 maquettes of the statue were made, and The late Queen was presented with the first.

Mr McCalmont explained there were three reasons Mr Chan wanted to buy the model. On a visit to the museum with his family this summer, he was so impressed that he wanted to support it.

He added that Mr Chan was a great admirer of The Queen, hugely respecting her devotion and love of racing and as patron of the museum. Mr Chan saw the marquette on display at the museum, and another in private ownership, while visiting Newmarket and was very taken with it.

The final reason is that on 11 September, as The Queen’s funeral cortege made its way from Balmoral to Edinburgh, it passed through Kinross. At the same time, the town’s namesake – owned by Mr Chan – was winning the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster.

Ms Hogan added: “This is a very heart-warming story that even in death The Queen is still one of our greatest supporters.

“We would also like to thank Tattersalls for agreeing to conduct the auction and finally the Newmarket Commemoration Committee who had the foresight to arrange for the casting of the 12 maquettes as a fundraising tool for the museum.”

The life-sized statue of the miniature version sold on Monday is a well-known landmark, standing near the entrance of the Rowley Mile racecourse. It was given to Her Majesty as a gift from the town in the year of her 90th birthday. Following her death in September, the statue became a focal point for the town to lay floral tributes in her memory.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Newmarket is known as the racing world’s “headquarters” and the two Newmarket racecourses play host to a large number of meetings throughout the year, including two of the five British Classics (1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas). The Rowley Mile Course hosts the spring and autumn racing, while its neighbour, The July Course holds the summer meetings.

Finding a hotel near the Newmarket racecourses will certainly help you make the most of your visit to the historic town. Due to the popularity of the venue, accommodation is often booked up well in advance – particularly for the Classics – so if you find something suitable available, we suggest you don’t hang around.

We’ve included a great selection of accommodation by type – not just hotels near Newmarket Racecourse, but guest houses, B&Bs and holiday lets too, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Distances are calculated to The Rowley Mile (CB8 0TF) and The July Course (CB8 0XE).

• Hotels near the Newmarket racecourses
• Holiday lets and apartments in Newmarket

Hotels near Newmarket’s racecourses

The Jockey Club Rooms, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.4 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.4 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Kings Hotel, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.5 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.4 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

White Hart, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.7 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Best Western Heath Court Hotel, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.8 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

Premier Inn Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.8 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at premierinn.com

Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, Burwell

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2.7 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.6 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

View at hotels.com or booking.com

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Exning

Distance to Rowley Mile: 3.5 miles | Distance to July Course: 4.5 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 3½/5 |

View at booking.com

The Courtyard, Dullingham

Distance to Rowley Mile: 4.6 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.6 miles | Type: B&B | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at booking.com

The Meadow House, Burwell

Distance to Rowley Mile: 5.5 miles | Distance to July Course: 7.8 miles | Type: Guest house | Trip Advisor rating: 3/5 |

View at booking.com

Travelodge Barton Mills

Distance to Rowley Mile: 10.2 miles | Distance to July Course: 11.2 miles | Type: Hotel | Trip Advisor rating: 4/5 |

View at travelodge.co.uk

Holiday lets and apartments in Newmarket

Luxury Flat, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.3 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.3 miles | Type: 2-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Eclipse House, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.5 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.4 miles | Type: 4-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

High Street Apartments, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.5 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.5 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Mill House Townhouse, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.6 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: 6-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

High Street Flat, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.7 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Old Station Road Studio, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.8 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Stratford Apartment, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.8 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.7 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Malt House, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 1.9 miles | Distance to July Course: 2.9 miles | Type: 2-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Amberleigh House Annexe, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2 miles | Distance to July Course: 3 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Exning Residence, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.1 miles | Type: Guest house | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Eclipse Ground Floor Apartment, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.1 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Eclipse First Floor Apartment, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.1 miles | Type: 1-bed apartment | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Guineas House, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2.1 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.2 miles | Type: 4-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Exning Road Home, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2.3 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.4 miles | Type: 3-bed holiday let | Trip Advisor rating: Not yet rated |

View at booking.com

Boutique Apartments, Newmarket

Distance to Rowley Mile: 2.4 miles | Distance to July Course: 3.3 miles | Type: 2- and 3-bed apartments | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

View at booking.com

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Discussions over upgrading crossings following accidents and near-misses on Newmarket’s roads spell hope for improving the safety of horses and riders in the town.

The Jockey Club’s training grounds executive Lindsay Devin spoke at Newmarket Town Council’s planning committee and community and leisure service committee meeting on 10 January about improving road crossings and a horse walk.

Improvements of the crossings at St Mary’s Square and Bury Road were raised, as was the Rayes Lane horse walk.

The Newmarket Journal reported that there was discussion of new surfacing at St Mary’s Square, as well as road marking warning of the crossing, new railings, and flashing warning signs activated by riders in Rowley Drive and Mill Hill. Improvements to the horse walk at Rayes Lane, making it safer for riders and for the pedestrians that use the pavement that runs parallel, were also discussed.

While this is an early step in any process to improve the crossings and horse walk, news of upgrades was welcomed by the town council and campaigners.

Rider Rosie Margarson, whose sister Katie was hit by a car while using the horse crossing at St Mary’s Square, told H&H it is a “step in the right direction”.

“I’ve only played a very small part in it, Lindsay at the Jockey Club has been banging on the door for years,” she said.

Rosie is a vocal campaigner for horse and rider safety, lobbying for changes to the driving test and sharing the body-cam footage she captures on her daily rides to highlight the realities of the dangers riders face in Newmarket.

The videos include countless near-misses at crossings, and Rosie said she hopes the clips give the public – and decision-makers – a “first-hand” understanding of what horses and riders experience on roads.

“I feel like we are getting through,” she said. “It’s a great start to 2022!”

You might also be interested in:

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A near miss at the same Newmarket crossing where a horse was hit by a car four months ago has sparked fresh calls to improve road safety in the town.

Rosie Margarson caught the incident on her body camera, which she uses to document her daily rides on Caribbean Spring (“Bean”).

On Wednesday morning, her father, trainer George Margarson, was leading the string aboard 24-year-old Atavus when the pair had a close call on the horse crossing in St Mary’s Square. The pair had stepped out into the road, when a car pulled out of the junction opposite. Mr Margarson halted and moved Atavus out of the way of the oncoming car, which passed within feet of the pair.

The incident came a day after Rosie captured footage of a different car, at the same crossing, that did not stop as the string was preparing to step into the road.

Rosie, who has been pushing for improvements to be made to that junction, told H&H that the crossing is “just not obvious enough” for drivers.

“When the woman [who had the close call on Tuesday] realised, she was incredibly shocked. But she shouldn’t have been shocked, it should be blindingly obvious that there could be horses there,” she said.

She explained that people pull out of the junction, trying to beat the oncoming traffic, and don’t expect to see horses there.

“You have cars coming at you from three ways – as a rider you have to have eyes everywhere,” she said.

“If anything, it’s got worse. Two cars have piled into the railings there and they’ve not been replaced properly.”

Rosie said she has been told there is not a sign suitable to be put there, and while she understands work may be ongoing behind the scenes, the lack of action is frustrating.

Her sister Katie and the horse she was riding, Luna Wish, were hit by a car at the same crossing in May.

“I thought after Katie was hit, that would be enough to finally push them into doing something. It’s ridiculous,” she said.

Rosie has reported the incidents to Suffolk County Council and on the British Horse Society (BHS) road safety reporting app. She also strongly encourages anyone in racing to do the same, as statistics help strengthen cases for road safety improvements.

“In my mind, we need something there so drivers understand they have to stop – some flashing lights, almost like a zebra crossing, without the stripes on the road,” she said, adding that it needs to be something takes both drivers and riders into account, keeping all parties safe.

“Red lights there would gridlock that section of town and that is going to annoy the residents – we are trying really to think of everyone.”

In May, Suffolk County Council told H&H that the authority is “aware of the challenges around horse crossings, particularly in Newmarket” and that it was working with the Newmarket Horsemen’s Group and the Jockey Club “on a programme to review and upgrade crossings where appropriate”.

H&H contacted the council following these latest near-misses to ask for an update.

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Katie Margarson, who was hit by a car just weeks after her sister had a near miss in exactly the

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tomorrow (Saturday 10 July), we will be treated to more Group One Flat racing action when the Darley July Cup Stakes gets underway at Newmarket racecourse. Here’s the full list of runners and riders who will be lining up with six furlongs ahead of them to help you select your July Cup betting. Who is your pick to win? Could it be last year’s winner, Oxted? (Pictured).

July Cup betting

Horse: Starman | Jockey: Tom Marquand | Place bet: 4/1

Trainer: Ed Walker

Dragon Symbol | Jockey: Oisin Murphy | Place bet: 4/1

Trainer: Archie Watson

Oxted | Jockey: Cieren Fallon | Place bet: 9/2

Trainer: Roger Teal

Rohaan | Jockey: Shane Kelly | Place bet: 13/2

David Evans

Creative Force | Jockey: William Buick | Place bet: 15/2

Charlie Appleby

Extravagant Kid | Jockey: Frankie Dettori | Place bet: 12/1

Brendan Walsh

Supremacy | Jockey: Adam Kirby | Place bet: 12/1

Clive Cox

Glen Shiel | Jockey: Hollie Doyle | Place bet: 14/1

Archie Watson

Art Power | Jockey: Sylvestre De Sousa | Place bet: 16/1

Tim Easterby

Chil Chil | Jockey: Rob Hornby | Place bet: 20/1

Andrew Balding

Line Of Departure | Jockey: David Egan | Place bet: 25/1

Roger Varian

Method | Jockey: Sean Levey | Place bet: 25/1

Martyn Meade

Good Effort | Jockey: Ray Dawson | Place bet: 33/1

Ismail Mohammed

Summerghand | Jockey: Martin Harley| Place bet: 33/1

David O’Meara

Glorious Journey | Jockey: James Doyle | Place bet: 40/1

Charlie Appleby

Emaraaty Ana | Jockey: Jack Mitchell | Place bet: 50/1

Kevin Ryan

Garrus | Jockey: Rossa Ryan | Place bet: 50/1

Charles Hills

Miss Amulet | Jockey: W J Lee | Place bet: 50/1

K J Condon

Brando | Jockey: Tom Eaves| Place bet: 66/1

Kevin Ryan

Betting terms and conditions: Minimum deposit £5. Bet credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Prices correct at time of publishing. Be Gamble Aware.

How can I watch the July Cup?

ITV Racing will be showing the July Cup live on the main ITV channel when the race gets underway at 4.25pm.

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2021 July Cup will take home £289,646.

Recent July Cup winners

2020: Oxted, ridden by Cieren Fallon, trained by Roger Teal and owned by S Piper, T Hirschfeld & D Fish

2019: Ten Sovereigns, ridden by Ryan Moore, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Magnier/Tabor/Smith

2018: U S Navy Flag, ridden by Ryan Moore, trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Magnier/Tabor/Smith

2017: Harry Angel, ridden by Adam Kirby, trained by Clive Cox and owned by Godolphin

2016: Limato, ridden by Harry Bentley, trained by Henry Candy and owned by Paul G. Jacobs

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A rider who was hit by a car just weeks after her sister had a near miss in exactly the same spot is pushing for better driver education to improve safety for everyone.

Katie Margarson and racehorse Luna Wish were hit from behind while on a horse crossing in Newmarket’s St Mary’s Square on 29 May. The accident happened just weeks after her sister, Rosie Margarson, launched a Government petition to improve driver education and called for more warning signs in Newmarket after having a number of close calls, including a near miss where Katie and Luna were hit.

“The filly is one of the sweetest, well behaved horses, and we were on our way home,” Katie told H&H.

She explained other cars had stopped and she was halfway across the road when she noticed a car pulling out of the junction. She added that this in itself wasn’t unexpected, as people often use the pause in traffic when horses are crossing to get out of the junction.

But the car continued straight into the horse, hitting Luna’s legs and the horse’s body ended up on the bonnet, smashing the windscreen.

Katie managed to stay on board and Luna shot forwards onto the pathway, which was luckily clear of pedestrians.

“It’s not lucky to be hit by a car, but it was lucky that it wasn’t worse,” said Katie. “It was lucky that I stayed on her and managed to stop.”

Katie was very shaken and instantly hopped off to check the mare, call the vet and assess what to do next.

“I’m normally very good in a crisis,” she said, explaining you have to be prepared to deal with all kinds of situations when working with horses.

“In my head I have a folder for everything and I expect the unexpected to happen, but there was no folder for being hit by a car.

“I saw the car and thought ‘there’s no way that car can be that damaged and for there to be this much blood and that this horse is going to be fine’.”

Thankfully, neither Katie nor the filly were seriously injured. The mare sustained superficial cuts, but is sound and back in work.

Katie thanked everyone who came to their help, including staff from nearby yards. She called the police, who logged the call, but did not attend.

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Katie added the young driver was “absolutely heartbroken” and said that while it was the driver’s responsibility to look where she was going, better education for drivers and more warning signs in the area are the key message.

“The crossing should be so obvious that no driver could possibly get that wrong — it should be like the Blackpool illuminations,” Katie said, adding she just wants to make sure this does not happen to anyone else.

“The driver knows it was her fault, she’s been in to see the horse and we all make mistakes.

“It’s not about ‘rider versus driver’, we all need to work together and make [the way to pass horses and the crossings] so clear for drivers that nobody else ends up in this situation.”

Rosie’s petition to make driving safely around horses part of the driving test has received more than 15,000 signatures in less than a month, and both sisters are continuing to push the message of driver education outside equestrian circles.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Support for a petition that would make driving safely around horses a mandatory part of the driving test continues to grow — and the Government has now responded.

Rosie Margarson, 26, started the petition as part of her push to improve safety for horses and riders on the roads and has welcomed the response.

“I’m pleased we’ve been given a response and can confirm, having spoken with the BHS, [British Horse Society] more is continuing to be done,” Rosie told H&H today (21 May).

“The petition wasn’t just for a government response, it was to raise awareness, get people talking and get the message to people outside the equestrian community and it has done that.

“I will continue to make noise regarding driving responsibly around horses because it’s a situation that won’t change overnight, but if we can all keep pushing and sharing stories, hopefully the message will continue to get through and we can at least have educated more people who wouldn’t have known.”

Rosie, who rides for her father trainer George Margarson in Newmarket, noticed just how often she was having near misses with vehicles at horse crossings in the town when she watched her daily hat-cam footage.

She has pushed the issue on social media, to raise awareness outside the equestrian world about the dangers, including speaking to a haulage firm that has since circulated a map of horse crossings in the town to its drivers to highlight where to look out for horses.

She has also contacted the council, her MP, Matt Hancock, and the Jockey Club, which owns the training grounds in Newmarket and has worked to improve road safety in the area.

“How horses, riders and cars interact is an area we have been working to improve for a number of years in all of the training centres which we operate, co-ordinating with the BHS amongst other organisations,” Nick Patton, managing director of Jockey Club Estates, told H&H.

“Ultimately road safety falls under the remit of local councils with whom we work closely and some progress has been made, such as the traffic lights on the Cambridge Road. However, more can be done and we would support anything which may bring about further improvements for equine highway users throughout the country, as the safety of our participants is paramount.”

Suffolk County Council has not responded to H&H’s requests for comment.

The Department for Transport (DfT) yesterday (Thursday, 20 May) responded to Rosie’s petition, which has been signed by more than 13,000 people in less than two weeks.

The petition calls for drivers to be tested on how they would approach any situation involving a horse, ridden or loose.

It added: “If they do not show they know how to safely do so this should be deemed a serious or dangerous fault, and they should not be given their licence.”

The DfT responded, stating that driving safely around horses is covered in the theory and hazard perception test.

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“All candidates are assessed on awareness, anticipation and planning skills, which are needed if driving around horses,” it states.

“A number of questions in the car theory test directly ask about horse riders.

In September 2020, theory test case studies were replaced with video clips, one of which involves an encounter with a ridden horse. There are also several available hazard perception clips relating to horses.

“Every candidate is assessed on their ability to show awareness, anticipation and planning skills during the practical driving test by demonstrating how they deal with all road users they encounter during their test, which may include horses, vulnerable road users, smaller vehicles and cyclists.

“The practical driving test is conducted in a live environment; therefore, it is not possible for every candidate to experience a situation involving driving around horses. If a candidate does encounter a horse while on test, their ability to deal with the situation will be assessed. If they fail to deal with it appropriately, an assessment is made on how far from the expected outcome the candidate was.

“In December 2017, changes were made to the practical driving test that allowed for test routes to go further afield and take in more high speed and high-risk roads, particularly country roads and rural locations. As these areas are more likely to contain horses, the opportunity to encounter a horse on test has increased.”

It states that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has worked with the BHS and in 2020 the Government consulted the public on changes to the Highway Code, which H&H has previously reported on.

“The aim is to introduce an updated Highway Code in 2021 that will improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. The Highway Code is a source for national driving standards and all future driving theory and practical tests,” it concluded.

At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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A Newmarket-based rider is pushing for safer crossings on the town’s roads after numerous close calls with traffic.

Rosie Margarson, who rides for her father, trainer George Margarson, shares lighthearted daily hat-cam videos of the antics of her thoroughbred Caribbean Spring (“Bean”) from their morning rides.

But as well as the fun, her hat-cam also captures the realities of the risks horses and riders face from drivers, even though the only occasions they are on the road is using dedicated crossings between horse walks.

Rosie explained while Bean can be a character on the heath, he behaves on the roads, and documenting their daily rides hit home to her just how frequently they were encountering scares while on, or joining, crossings.

“It had never really bothered me until I watched the footage back [each day] and realised how many close calls I was having — it’s not right,” Rosie told H&H.

“When you think of the thousands of other horses in Newmarket, whose riders aren’t wearing cameras… it’s happening all the time.”

Rosie added that the Pegasus crossings, including one installed in 2019 on the fast Cambridge Road, are great — although she has still had incidents of drivers running the red lights at these.

She said better signage and more education of drivers would help keep everyone safer.

“For us in Newmarket, there’s a serious lack of signage,” she said. “Where I cross at St Mary’s Square, there’s not a single sign or early warning to people that there are horses crossing. We ride upsides the traffic, so there’s no way they can’t see us. However, there is no early warning and it is effectively a blind bend, so people often have to slam on the brakes when they get there.”

It was here last week that a lorry did not stop as riders were about to step on to the crossing. Days later, a car passed under Bean’s nose while they were half-way across the road, and these are far from isolated incidents.

Rosie said at a crossing on Fordham Road, the “dinger” that riders hit to activate the crossing is glitchy. This means when riders get round the corner and to the edge of the road, by which time the lights should have changed, they often find traffic is still moving.

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She has recently launched a Government petition, calling for the driving test to examine candidates on how they would approach any situation involving a horse, ridden or loose.

“If they do not show they know how to safely do so this should be deemed a serious or dangerous fault, and they should not be given their license,” the petition states.

Rosie’s videos are also making an impact — the managing director of the firm whose lorry failed to stop called her to apologise, and sent Bean a hamper of treats.

Rosie said the firm has gone “over and above” and is changing its handbook so drivers are better educated about the horse situation in Newmarket.

This includes a map of all the horse crossings in the town, which she suggested is something the Jockey Club could also frequently share with local businesses, by way of reminding the wider public where to be prepared to stop for horses.

Rosie added that she has contacted the council “more times than she can count” as well as her local MP Matt Hancock, and is in frequent contact with the Jockey Club. She also reports all incidents on the British Horse Society (BHS) app, which she encourages others to do as well, and the police, when appropriate.

“Someone has to pick this up and try to do something before it’s too late,” she said, adding she decided that person might as well be her and is encouraging others to do the same.

“Using the BHS app only takes two minutes and if enough of us voice concern about an area, it will help as it shows there’s a problem.”

• Find out more about the petition to make driving safely around horses a mandatory part of the driving test.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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A new academy to bring horses and ponies to those who would otherwise not have access to them is to launch in Newmarket in April.

The Newmarket Pony Academy (NPA) will be based at the British Racing School and has been working with local schools, West Suffolk Council, Godolphin and the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust.

“Despite being the headquarters of racing, Newmarket does not currently provide an opportunity for its young people to learn to ride unless they are fortunate enough to have family involvement,” the NPA said in a statement, adding that it “seeks to change this”.

The NPA will host one-week courses for year six pupils to introduce them to ponies while helping them to engage in core subjects on the school curriculum, and has also pledged to “provide the opportunity to re-establish” a Newmarket Riding For the Disabled Association group.

It will be home to breakfast, after-school and holiday clubs for at-risk young people, who have been identified by teachers and social workers as likely to face challenges as they move to secondary school or are at a risk of being drawn into criminality.

As well as this, it will have a one-day per week course for students from the Newmarket Academy Polaris centre, which provides bespoke education for young people of secondary school age with communication and interaction needs.

“Horses are the fabric of Newmarket, but the majority of children growing up here have no opportunity to even touch one. We believe we have a responsibility to change that and make the positives of involvement with horses available to as many people as possible,” said Penny Taylor, UK charities manager at Godolphin.

The NPA will also work in partnership with existing city riding clubs, such as The Urban Equestrian Academy in Leicester and Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, with residential weeks at the British Racing School to learn about racehorses and the industry.

British Racing School finance director Andrew Braithwaite thanked the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trust and Godolphin for their support.

“The case for racing becoming more open and inclusive is clear and the NPA will allow us and the wider industry to give young people a real insight into horseracing regardless of their background and, for those bitten by the bug, a route into the industry,” said Mr Braithwaite.

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Students from Newmarket Academy and Sybil Andrews Academy took part in the NPA’s pilot and the schools’ executive headteacher Nick Froy said they returned to school with “increased positivity and confidence”.

“I am convinced that engaging with the NPA will be a transformational activity for the young people of Newmarket and its surrounding areas that will make a real difference to their futures,” he added.

West Suffolk Council leader Cllr John Griffiths said this is a “great project” of “real benefit for young people in Newmarket” and he hopes it will help “many young people learn new skills and gain confidence, both now and in later life”.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Perhaps you’re looking for a set-up to make both your horsey and home dreams come true? Well, Woodland in Suffolk might just be the place for you, with its 44 stables, gallop access and stunning period home.

This former racing establishment is settled 12 miles from Cambridge, 14 miles from Bury St Edmunds and 60 miles from London.

Woodland occupies a prime position in Newmarket, overlooking The Severals with easy access to Warren Hill and Bury Side Training Grounds. The cross-town horsewalk to the Racecourse Side Training Grounds is also located at the Fordham Road junction about 100m from the yard’s gates.

Newmarket is set on the Suffolk/ Cambridgeshire border and is world-famous as the headquarters of British horseracing.

Local equestrian centres within easy reach include: Newton Hall Equitation (41 miles), Bardwell Manor (22 miles), Fenland (37 miles) and Hill Farm (49 miles).

If you like to show sign up to BSPS Area 17 or NPS Area 13.

Head out with the Cambridgeshire Hunt with Enfield Chace once the season comes around, or try out the facilities at Ely Eventing Centre.

The agents you need to contact are Jackson-Stops and Keylocks,  and if you want to call this dazzling premises your home, you will need to fork out £1.995m.

Set in 2.03 acres, there are two seperate training yards. Dating back to 1883, the main traditional stable yard consists of 12 boxes to the front and three loose boxes to the rear. Under a clock tower is a central passage from the front to the rear of the building, where there is a tack room, drying room, feed room and cloakroom.

The new yard has 23 loose boxes, two feed rooms, a tack room, haystore, horsewalker and muck heap. There is also a hard-standing area — which was once a tennis court — with six timber-built stables.

The main house is a substantial period property, arranged over three floors with nine bedrooms in total. It is constructed of red brick elevations under a slate roof with tall chimneys with spiral stonework. As well as this property, there is also a three-bedroom flat and a bungalow for additional accomodation.

The main house has a reception hall with large ornate staircase and formal well-proportioned reception rooms.

Outside you will find large established grounds, as well as a heated outdoor pool.

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With the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up and Horses In Training sales having taken place over the past couple of days (3-4 May), Horse & Hound discovers what goes on behind the scenes and what exactly happens during a breeze up sale.

With a total of 234 breeze up two-year-old horses listed in the catalogue, the horse sales in Newmarket is a busy time for many. Star Bloodstock consignor Byron Rogers explains the intricacies when preparing a horse for a breeze up, and their daily routine while at the sales.

“The breeze up sale concept started back in the 1970s in America. A saddle and tack would be put on a horse and they would do a little canter up the straight. It then came over to Europe and has been very successful,” says Byron.

He adds the general idea of a breeze up is to take a young horse and work it in gallop over two furlongs, which is considerably shorter than the minimum five-furlong distance in a race.

From this short gallop past (‘breeze up’) buyers can get a good view of which horses they like. Buyers are looking for horses that have potential to continue in training for future success on the track.

“As long as the horses are travelling well and doing everything right in the breeze, then the buyers will hopefully be buying,” adds Byron.

So what is the daily routine for the 200-plus horses during the breeze up sales?

“Before the breeze we would normally get here at 7am to check the horses’ feet, temperatures and legs for heat or other issues. Afterwards, we take them out for a 20-minute walk and then take them over to the track,” he explains.

“As the sale day nears, you may do less work [with the horses], as you have done all you need to do already — you should only need to work them over one or two furlongs. It really depends on the horse. For a smaller, lighter filly, you don’t need to do as much work as you would do with a big, strong colt.

“After, you bring them back to the stables for feeding and later check there is no dramas from the work they’ve done. The first thing you want to see is how they recover. It is important to see a horse that comes out bouncing and happy, that the work they have done was not too hard. We are trying to sell something that a trainer will want to train on with and not a used product.”

In this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (3 May 2018) we celebrate The Queen’s dedication to Royal Windsor, as the show prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary

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By the end of today (4 May), over 200 two-year-old horses will have gone through the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up horse sales in Newmarket.

The concept of a “breeze up” originates from the 1970s in America, when horses would be tacked up and cantered along a straight in front of potential buyers. The concept then arrived in Europe, where it has been very successful.

Plenty of bloodstock experts will be at the sales eyeing up the best horses for their racehorse owner clients, but what exactly are they looking for?

Star Bloodstock consignor Byron Rogers gives us some pointers…

“What we are looking for physically in a horse when buying is, firstly, that it’s nicely balanced — a neck that runs into a lovely shoulder. A shoulder that sits back well and a neck with plenty of reach to the head,” he says.

“You want a good length from his shoulder to elbow, which is important when it comes to his stride length. And also a long leg down to the knee, followed by a short cannon bone.”

However, most importantly, Byron adds: “We want to see plenty of depth from the withers down to the girth. This means there is plenty of room for the lungs. It is good to see that the withers are set back and he has a lovely short back to the point of his hip.

“The thigh muscle and gaskin are also important and we look for a lot of strength here because that’s the muscle that brings the horse’s leg underneath them — ultimately where their stride length comes from.

He concludes: “Finally, you are look that he has an alert eye and is a good-looking horse. He also isn’t too wide across his chest and his knees are sharp and clean.”

In this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (3 May 2018) we celebrate The Queen’s dedication to Royal Windsor, as the show prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary

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

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

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.

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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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.”

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.”

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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.”

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.

Article continues below…

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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

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An overdue visit to the home of racing for Horse & Hound's features editor has her hooked on a town where horses come first...

How has it taken 28 horse-mad years of my life to go to the home of racing? I blame growing up in Somerset — which feels like the other end of the earth from Newmarket.

From a muggle’s perspective (by muggle I mean unhorsey), there’s not a huge amount to write home about. For high-street highlights we’re talking Peacocks and Greggs the bakers — New Look is probably the closest to haute couture you’ll get in this corner of Suffolk. This is no bustling Cheltenham or quaint Burghley. But anyone who scoffs is missing the point.

Litter bins adorned with horses

A 75th anniversary celebration of the Animal Health Trust (AHT) yesterday (28 March), seemed like a very good reason to make my debut visit.

As the train approached Newmarket station, the swathes of white fencing for the gallops came into sight.

Walking into town I noticed the litter bins adorned with pictures of horses and punters strolled in and out of shops in breeches and boots.

And suddenly it dawned on me. I had arrived in some sort of equestrian nirvana. This is no normal provincial town.

Mistime your morning commute here, and you find yourself stuck in traffic waiting for the strings of horses coming off the gallops to cross the road and make their way onto the specially designated pavements and back to their yards, which are interspersed down side streets on seemingly residential roads.

And you could be waiting a long time — there are at least 3,000 horses in training with over 80 trainers.

But being stuck in a taxi trying to get to the AHT’s centre on the outskirts of the town was no great hardship, with a driver who could reel off stats about eye-watering stud fees and prolific sires with the ease that your regular cabby talks about football scores.

Talking to a local journalist as we marked the astounding achievements that the AHT has made in veterinary science during its long history, she regaled a time when she was standing behind the late Sir Henry Cecil in Newmarket Waitrose to see him buying only smoked salmon and champagne. Jilly Cooper couldn’t write it any better.

A museum that doesn’t make you yawn…

Trying to get your (equestrian) bearings in this town and pinpointing the ‘sights’ can be overwhelming.

Newmarket Heath extends to over 2,500 acres, with 50 miles of turf gallops and canters and there are two racecourses (The July Course and The Rowley Mile), Tattersalls, the National Stud and copious yards of varying degrees of glamour (and security) to navigate.

Which is where the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art (pictured above) comes into play. Built in the remains of Charles II’s palace and racing stables and opened by The Queen in November last year, it should be compulsory for Newmarket first-timers and racing buffs alike.

You can immerse yourself in the best of sporting art (think Stubbs and Munnings), get to grips with the genetic code of the thoroughbred and understand how Newmarket developed as a hub for racing. Revel in the sports’ heroes (both equine and human) and shed a tear watching some emotional replays — The Queen’s face lighting up to see Estimate storm to victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot is a highlight.

Once my brain was saturated with the legendary runners and riders that make up Newmarket’s past and present, I made a beeline to the Tack Room next door for dinner with a friend — a restaurant named after its original use.

Delicious food, yes. But all the better for the décor — saddles hang from the walls, jockey silks replace paintings and you can watch horses munching on their hay in the Rothschild Yard outside, which is the flagship home for Retraining of Racehorses.

Pulling out of the station (one platform, no loo, no shop, no ticket office…) and hurtling back towards London, it was like waking from some sort of horsey dream. In the world away from Newmarket, shop assistants no longer know who Frankel is and taxi drivers can’t tip you a winner for the Guineas Festival in May…

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Fans of former top Flat horse Kingsgate Native will be able to get up close and personal to the sprinting star during his stay at the National Heritage Centre in Newmarket.

The 12-year-old gelding raced for an impressive ten seasons, winning eight of his 60 starts — two of which were Group One victories. During his career, he amassed a total of £851,420 in prize-money and was trained over the years by a number of handlers, including Robert Cowell, Sir Michael Stoute and Jim Best.

Owned by Cheveley Park Stud, the son of Mujadil was retired in 2016 to take up residence at the British Racing School.

“Kingsgate Native has, over the years, developed a huge following and it is fitting that he can be viewed by the general public in such splendid and spectacular surroundings at the Heritage Centre,” said Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director.

The gelding will be joined at the onsite Rothschild yard by fellow Group-winning racehorse The Cheka, who retired from racing in 2013 — following six seasons in training with Eve Johnson-Houghton.

Kingsgate Native and his new stablemate have already settled in at the historic venue, at Palace House in racing’s headquarter town, and visitors are now being welcomed. Both horses are on loan from the nearby British Racing School.

Kingsgate Native is set to start his new career at the British Racing School once his spell at the National Heritage Centre is finished. There, he will be teaching young aspiring jockeys how to ride.

The two horses replace the two former resident equines, the ex-David Pipe-trained Our Vic and 24-year-old Frileux Royal.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming both The Cheka and Kingsgate Native to the Rothschild yard,” said Joe Grimwade, the Retraining of Racehorse (RoR) public engagement manager.

“Kingsgate Native has been a huge part of the Flat racing scene for the past ten years and I am sure visitors to the Heritage Centre will be thrilled to get the chance to meet him — we’re grateful to the Thompson family and the British Racing School, who have been huge supporters, allowing us to look after him.”

To find out more information, click here.

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The Queen will officially open the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art in Newmarket next month.

The centre, which had a soft launch in September, will be opened on 3 November.

“Horseracing is a sport that we know is close to Her Majesty’s heart,” said Chris Garibaldi, National Horseracing Museum director.

“We hope that she will be impressed with the new facilities — providing as it does the opportunity for visitors to understand the fascinating historical context to the modern sport and the horseracing industry.”

Based at Palace House, the remains of Charles II’s sporting palace and stables, the attraction comprises the National Horseracing Museum, an art gallery and the Retraining of Racehorses’ flagship yard.

Children from All Saints School, Newmarket, will line the drive to welcome The Queen, who will then be given a tour of the venue and introduced to those who have helped with the redevelopment.

She will meet the former racehorses housed in the Rothschild Yard, before she is taken to see the Robert’s Veterinary Gallery, the Pivotal Racehorse Simulator Gallery and the recently excavated skeleton of 18th century stallion Pot8os.

Peter Jensen, chairman of the Horseracing Trust, said it will be a “great honour” to welcome Her Majesty.

“We are extremely proud of what has been created, over many years,” he said.

“Many of the people and organisations who will be attending the opening ceremony have donated large amounts of time, enthusiasm and money to enable this project to happen.

“I know they will be honoured The Queen has agreed to open the National Heritage Centre for us.”

Related articles:

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Cllr Andy Drummond, Forest Heath District Council cabinet member for leisure and culture, said it is fitting they are welcoming the longest-serving monarch to open the centre in the same year that Newmarket celebrates 350 years of racing in the town.

Money for the venue came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, donors from the racing industry, local council and members of the art world.

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The name and a first look at designs of the Injured Jockeys Fund’s (IJF) new rehabilitation and fitness centre have been revealed.

The centre, to open at the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket in 2018, will be called Peter O’Sullevan House after the legendary “voice of racing” who died last year aged 97.

Sir Peter was a supporter of the IJF — H&H’s 2016 charity of the year — and a “substantial opening grant” was given to the project from The Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust.

This will take the number of IJF centres to three — the others being Oaksey House in Lambourn and Jack Berry House in Malton.

“We are extremely grateful to The Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust for their generous donation to this exciting project,” said IJF chief executive Lisa Hancock.

“The name Peter O’Sullevan House is a fitting tribute to one of racing’s most respected figures.

“It also sits extremely well alongside Lord Oaksey and Jack Berry, all three of them dedicated and passionate charity campaigners.”

Peter O’Sullevan House will have state-of-the-art rehabilitation and fitness facilities and will also house the IJF head office.

“We are determined to ensure that Peter’s name lives on in those areas he was so passionately committed to supporting,” said Nigel Payne on behalf of the Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust trustees.

“When we were approached by the Injured Jockeys Fund we knew that here was a project which suited this objective perfectly.”

Work is set to begin on the new centre later this year.

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• Jockeys to go head to head over showjumps at Olympia
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Grant Harris, CEO of the BRS, added the name is a “wonderful tribute to a true legend of our sport”.

“All involved in this project thank the charitable trust for its grant towards the building of what promises to be a fantastic asset to Newmarket,” said Mr Harris.

“The BRS is so proud to be part of this project. It will enhance the offering at the school by giving those attending courses the ability to use the state-of-the-art facilities at Peter O’Sullevan House.

“The synergy is obvious to all.”

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Hayley Turner has made a return to the racecourse in a “warm-up” for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup next month.

The former top British female Flat jockey retired from racing in November last year.

But Hayley was back in action at Newmarket on Friday evening (15 July) as she prepares to help defend her title in the team event at Ascot on 6 August.

The Shergar Cup involves teams of jockeys — The Girls, Europe and The Rest of the World — go head-to-head in five races across the afternoon.

The Girls — Hayley, Sammy Jo Bell and Emma-Jayne Wilson — were victorious last year.

Australian jockey Michelle Payne had been set to compete alongside Emma-Jayne and Cathy Gannon at the 2016 event, but is out of action due to injury.

Hayley had three rides at Newmarket on Friday, finishing fifth on her first, Yankee Mail, trained by Gay Kelleway.

Her other two rides were the Marco Botti-trained Clenymistra in the Colchester Cancer Centre Campaign maiden fillies’ stakes and He’s My Boy, trained by James Fanshawe, in the Maritime Cargo Services handicap, with whom she finished third.

One of the most successful female jockeys of all time, in 2008 Hayley became the first lady rider to achieve 100 wins in a calendar year.

During her glittering 15-year career, she rode more than 760 British winners and became the first lady to score a victory for The Queen.

She was named champion apprentice in 2005, the same year she rode 44 winners.

Related articles:

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Her numerous top-level wins over the years include the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and the Beverley D Stakes at Arlington Park.

In Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday Honours list last month, Hayley was appointed OBE for services to horse racing.

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Plans to build a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and fitness centre for riders in Newmarket are being discussed by H&H’s charity of the year, the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF).

It follows the success of Oaksey House in Lambourn, opened in 2009, and Jack Berry House in Malton, Yorkshire, which opened its doors in 2015. Both centres have played pivotal roles in rehabilitation and maintaining day-to-day fitness for jockeys, stable staff and other equestrians.

“We are at the very early stages of exploring what might be achievable. We would love to be able to offer jockeys in Newmarket a similar level of support to that of Oaksey House and Jack Berry House. We also hope to be able to work really closely with the other charities already based in Newmarket,” said Lisa Hancock, CEO of the IJF.

The charity, which has spent around £18million helping over 1,000 jockeys since it was founded in 1964, is working closely with the Newmarket-based British Racing School.

The proposal to bring a new rehabilitation centre and gym facilities for jockeys to the town — recognised as the headquarters of British horse racing — is in its initial planning stages.

“We are delighted to be working with the IJF. Both Oaksey House and Jack Berry House provide invaluable support and it would be wonderful to offer the same range of facilities here,” said the British Racing School’s CEO Grant Harris.

“For our part we are in desperate need of a new gym for our trainees and other [racing industry] courses, so this seems a perfect fit.

“There is much work to do and no fixed dates yet, but we can use the IJF’s knowledge from the previous two builds to move quite fast.”

The Injured Jockeys Fund is Horse & Hound’s charity of the year for 2016. To donate click here.

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Retired racehorses in new careers, including Melbourne cup runner-up Purple Moon, will parade at Newmarket today (10 October).

Purple Moon (pictured) ran 23 times on the Flat, winning over £1.1m in prize money, and has had considerable success in showing since he started his retraining in 2012.

Last year he was champion at the Fenland show and won the RoR final at Hickstead with Chantal Wootten.

He will join the 10-horse lineup at the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) parade, which will take place on the second day of the inaugural Dubai future champions festival.

“So many of the success stories of former racehorses achieving new heights in different disciplines are horses who only raced on the Flat and so it is fitting that there should be a RoR parade at Newmarket, the home of Flat racing,” said Di Arbuthnot, chief executive of RoR.

“The line-up of the Newmarket parade highlights one of the great strengths of RoR in that alongside wonderfully talented racehorses such as African Story and Prince Bishop, we have horses of considerably less ability on the racetrack, but who have gone on to find their niche in their second career, whether it be dressage or playing horseball at international level.”

Ascot gold cup winner Papineau and Dubai world cup winners African Story and Prince Bishop and will also feature in the parade, as well as Quadrille, owned by The Queen, who is now doing dressage.

“We are particularly grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his support, through Godolphin, in enabling the parade to take place,” said Ms Arbuthnot.

“Aside from the Dubai world cup winners, who are currently being retrained, evidence of the success of the Godolphin and Darley rehoming and retraining programme can be seen in the likes of City Style and Gulf Of Naples, both of whom are thriving in their new activities and giving their owners a great deal of pleasure.”

RoR introduced the parades in 2008 and they are now an established part of the major racing festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.

This is the first time that Newmarket racecourse has hosted a RoR parade on the Rowley Mile.

The parade will take place at 1pm in the parade ring, immediately before the first race.

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Oxford will go head-to-head with Cambridge in a varsity battle next weekend.

But it’s not the boat race — the universities will be taking each other on on the racecourse.

Each university will field a team of five riders to take part in a race at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 10 October.

James Alexander is captaining the defending champions, Cambridge University, while Alice Stables leads the way for Oxford.

The 1m race will be run as the first race on day two of the Future Champions Festival.

All the riders are current students at Britain’s two top universities and many of them had never ridden a racehorse before training for this race began in the spring.

James said riding in last year’s race was “incredible”.

“I don’t remember a great deal about the race, but I do remember the cheers starting to build as we reached the two furlong marker and once I was past the post I became aware of a crescendo of noise coming from behind me,” he said.

“The past few months have been pretty intense as I have been getting up at 5.30am to ride out in Newmarket and then rushing back to Cambridge in time for the start of the day.

“Any Oxbridge student will tell you that in sporting terms the Varsity Match is the biggest thing and with me, as with most other people, it will represent the pinnacle of my sporting career.

“It’s all about the team competition and seeing Cambridge finish ahead of Oxford. I would happily finish stone last as long as my teammates lift the trophy.”

Alice Stables has previously been involved in carriage driving. She had never been to a racecourse before last year’s event, when she supported her friends.

“Since April I have been riding out two or three times a week for trainer Sylvester Kirk. When I got on a racehorse for the first time that morning I was absolutely terrified,” she said.

“I have also been having tuition on the equicizer from former jockey John Reid. The first try on the equicizer was phenomenally painful and I only lasted for about 20 seconds, but that inspired me to get fit.

“Our team tactics are going to be simple — just win!”

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As yet another corner of Britain was covered in snow last night, it seemed only right that we celebrate (or commiserate, depending on your point of view) by sharing some of your snowy tweets.

From racing to hunting and everything in between, the snowy scenes sure do make for a great photo opportunity — although getting anything done can prove a problem.

Be sure to make the most of the wintery surroundings on camera now though — as excitingly (and quite terrifyingly) it’s only 92 days until the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and a little over 16 weeks until the day of the Investec Derby on the Epsom Downs.

Fingers crossed that by this time on 10 March, all of the white stuff will be replaced by bright sunshine when the Cheltenham Festival kicks off

Snow doesn’t stop play for Charlie Hills’ Group One winner, Just The Judge

Thank goodness this wasn’t the scence prior to racing at Sandown last weekend

There were magical scenes in Newmarket this morning as horses went out on exercise

We wonder if this was the first sight of snow for this lovely filly foal

Lady Cecil’s string brave the elements

Indeed it looks like Market Rasen’s decision to abandon today’s racing was a justified one

We bet this Australian event rider doesn’t get weather like this in his native country

Perhaps cross-country schooling will be off the cards today

A hardy soul helps exercise the cavalry horses in Hyde Park, London this morning

Now this is what you call dedication to the cause…

One of Kitty King’s event horses voices his opinions on the weather

If you have any pictures you would like to add to this gallery, simply Tweet them to us at @horseandhound

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A project to promote tourism in Newmarket and create more racing fans was launched at the Jockey Club Rooms earlier this week (18 November).

Discover Newmarket is a community run project set up to provide visitors with behind the scenes tours of the town’s Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.

The project also aims to educate the public and promote the heritage, history and culture of the town.

It hopes to increase the footfall to benefit local businesses, increase investment in the racing industry and provide the customer with an easy booking experience.

The days out range from a public tour of the National Stud (costing £11) to a luxury bespoke tour with private access to leading trainers and studs followed by hospitality at Newmarket racecourses.

Tourists will be able to see mares and foals at The National Stud, visit the gallops or Tattersalls bloodstock auction house and see the equine welfare work done at the Animal Health Trust.

“The target is to attract many more people to Newmarket to enjoy what the racing community has to offer. Every penny of profits from Discover Newmarket will be reinvested for the benefit of the town and the local area,” said Noel Byrne, the chair of Discover Newmarket.

All the current individual attractions in the town have agreed to hand over all tour business to Discover Newmarket from January 2015.

The project hopes to increase visitors to the town’s attractions which include the National Stud and Dalham Hall Stud by 50% over the next three years.

The opening of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art in 2016 is expected to attract an additional 45,000 new visitors numbers to Newmarket each year.

More information here

In the run-up to last Saturday’s fantastic QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot there was a lot of adverse comment about the meeting being run on soft or, as it turned out, heavy ground.

One young Newmarket trainer was quoted as saying that he wouldn’t be running his horse in the new £250,000 Balmoral Handicap because the meeting was going to be run “on bad jumping ground” and that he thought it should be moved to earlier in the autumn.

Whichever way you look at it, that won’t happen. Because of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp two weeks earlier, there is no room for manoeuvre.

It has to be held on this weekend and there is no point debating the whys and wherefores.

As for the ground, sure it was very deep, but no one jumps up and down when it’s soft ground every other year at the aforementioned Arc meeting. That’s accepted as part of the deal, and the meeting is no lesser for it.

Besides that, there are plenty of top-class performers who handle, even relish, slow ground. Who is anybody to say that they should be discriminated against?

As for the idea of covering the course in the run-up, the track would be making a rod for their own back. How could you predict when to lay the covers, never mind the huge expense involved? As long as the meeting is not in danger, it should be left alone.

An occupational hazard

We are in the latter half of a year that from early summer to late autumn has favoured the fast-ground performers. That is the way the cookie crumbles, but for those of us with soft-ground horses — and I defy any trainer to say that he has none — their owners have had to be patient in the extreme!

Despite this, a large chunk of Newmarket’s flagship July meeting was run on slow ground.

We have to accept the weather is an occupational hazard, and get on with it. For example, even in the driest September since who knows when, Newbury had half an inch of rain just before their two-day meeting. On the first day, one trainer’s right-hand man was complaining loudly about their watering policy. It had to be pointed out to him that with that much rain it mattered not how much water they had put on.

Even if it did, what did he expect in mid-September?

Changing the date of British Champions Day to earlier in the autumn will not guarantee better ground, so the argument is pointless.

Whether to water

As for watering, the debate will rage on. Many feel that the tracks overwater — that it discriminates against fast-ground horses, and that it changes the nature of a track’s surface.

This winter, Yarmouth are taking up the turf on their straight track to sort out the ridges that have become progressively worse, and there is a feeling that this has come about because of continuous watering.

There has also been a good deal of complaint about the same problem on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, mostly from the jockeys.

Memorably, after this year’s 1000 Guineas, the winning (brilliant) trainer Andre Fabre was asked if he had any prior concerns about his filly Miss France handling the conditions. He replied: “No, not all. The Rowley Mile is the best course in the world, we love it, horses love it, it is only some jockeys who don’t like it”. Monsieur Fabre is well known for his autocratic handling of jockeys, but he has a point.

The tracks are in a difficult position, if they don’t water and produce firm ground, they attract small fields, which is to no one’s advantage. Generally, they do a pretty good job.

I have a much bigger problem with some of the inaccurate forecasting of what their ground will be on race day. But that is a whole other can of worms, and a subject for another day.

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Students are being offered free entry to top-class Flat racing over the “Weekend of Champions” later this year (17-18 October).

The racing action includes six Group One races across Dubai future champions day at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile (17 October), and QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on (18 October).

The Ascot student day is sponsored by Sheikh Fahad al Thani of QIPCO Holding, whose passion for racing started when he was a student in London.

“It is important that British racing is proactive in introducing more young people to this wonderful sport,” he said.

The first 2,000 students to apply will be given free tickets.

This year’s initiative follows on from last year’s inaugural National Student Raceday.

Sophie Jenkins, a recent graduate from Nottingham University, attended the National Student Raceday 2013.

“Last year was a lot of fun and many of the students who attended had never been racing before,” she said. “To be offered the chance to attend the Weekend of Champions completely free is amazing, and I am sure that even more will go this year.”

For tickets for the Ascot meeting, visit the website and use the promotional code STUDENTSBCD.

Students will only be able to register for one ticket and will only be granted admission with a valid photo student ID.

To apply for up to four tickets to the Dubai Future Champions day, go to the Newmarket racecourse website and use the promotional code STUDENT14.

Amy Starkey, from the Jockey Club said: “We recognise that many people start their passion for racing at a young age and believe that the quality of the racing on offer will be a perfect introduction to our sport.”

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The top 10 racecourses in the VisitEngland “Quality Assured Racecourse Scheme” have been revealed.

Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Newmarket, Plumpton, Salisbury, Wincanton, Royal Windsor and York racecourses rated highest in England and Wales in 2013 for visitor attraction (listed alphabetically).

Racecourses are assessed over a number of criteria, including the efficiency and friendliness of their customer service and the availability and cleanliness of facilities.

Last year VisitEngland including owners’ and trainers’ facilities in their assessments for the first time, which is reflected in each racecourses overall score.

All 10 racecourses “showed exceptional scores“.

The scheme will continue for 2014 and will see the introduction of accolades including:

* Best food outlet (takeaway style)

* Best café (walk-up only, seated meals, can be buffet/table service)

* Lovely loos

* Visitor information and signage (racecard, internal and external signage, car parks, PA and CCTV)

* Best bar area

“We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with VisitEngland to offer customers a guarantee of quality when they visit British racecourses,” said the Racecourse Association’s (RCA) Caroline Davies.

“This scheme, along with the one run by VisitScotland makes sure that racecourses are able to get constructive feedback which they can use to help them identify their strengths as well as areas that may need improvement.

“The variety in the racecourses that have made the top ten in 2013 is testament to the fact that you don’t need to be a big racecourse to offer a top quality visitor attraction and we believe the changes that we have made to the scheme in 2014 will only go to help racecourses achieve even more in this area”.

Trainers in Newmarket gathered 100 racehorses on Warren Hill yesterday (Wednesday 25 June) as part of a protest against land development.

The protest was staged by the Newmarket Horsemen’s Group, the body that represents the industry in the town, urging members of Forest Heath District Council planning committee not to develop land for housing at Hatchfield Farm.

The riders wore high-vis vests that read “No to Hatchfield Farm”. Horses came from top yards including Luca Cumani, William Haggas, James Fanshawe, Jane Chapple-Hyam, Mark Tompkins, Godolphin and William Jarvis.

A council meeting is due to be held next week (2 July).

The group warned that work would have a “significant negative impact on the £200m per annum contribution to the local economy generated by the racing and breeding industry, and also on the future prosperity of the town as a whole”.

William Gittus, chairman of the Newmarket Horsemen’s Group, said: “The racing and breeding operations based in and around the town set Newmarket apart, providing the area with a unique selling point, bringing huge economic, cultural and environmental benefits to the entire area.

“While the current application is for 400 houses, it is our firm belief that allowing any development at Hatchfield Farm will lead, in time, to the number of houses growing and growing.

“The consequences of any significant development at Hatchfield Farm, with the unavoidable accompanying increases in traffic and urbanisation, would compromise the future health and potential for growth of the town’s main industry.”

He added that there are “alternative sites” that could be developed instead.

“We are perfectly happy to support local development that is not detrimental to the future of the horseracing industry,” he said.

A recent report found that the racing industry benefits the economy around Newmarket by more than £208m annually and is responsible for 8,500 jobs within a 25 mile radius. Just under £100m is generated by racehorse trainers. 

In 2012 an appeal by developers wanting to build 1,200 homes on Hatchfield Farm was turned down by the government. The plan for 400 houses was submitted this month.

After 4 years of fighting by the Save Historic Newmarket Group secretary of state Eric Pickles rejected the application in March 2012.

The campaign group was set up in 2008 to protest against the new development plans, proposed by Lord Derby.

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Amlin Plus is the new sponsor of Andrea Atzeni. The equine insurance company has signed a 1-year sponsorship deal with the Italian jockey.

“Andrea is a very talented young jockey whose career has really taken off over the last 12 months and we are delighted to be adding him to the high profile portfolio of jockeys we sponsor,” said David Ashby, managing director of Amlin Plus. “We wish him the very best of luck for the coming flat season and look forward to working with him.”

Moët & Chandon has become the title sponsor of the July Festival at Newmarket.

“We are thrilled to welcome Moët & Chandon as the new title sponsor for our wonderful July Festival,” said Amy Starkey, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses. “Their involvement will enhance the attraction of the highlight of the year on the July course at Newmarket Racecourses — and we are delighted with the close historical link between the maison and The Jockey Club. We are looking forward immensely to working with one of the top brands in the world to develop further our fantastic summer festival of horse racing.”

Pharmaceutical company Vétoquinol has a new 3-year partnership with William Fox-Pitt.

“The well-being of my horses is my first priority. With the constant need for better performance combined with the strict regulations of the international authorities, riders really need to find the top products, both in terms of quality ingredients and high manufacturing standards,” said William. “The EQUISTRO® range offers specific individualised and trusted solutions for sport and competitive horses which meets both of these requirements. I want my horses to be at the top of their game for the coming World Equestrian Games, the Olympics Games and all of the big competitions: working with EQUISTRO® to help to improve my training program is definitely a great step forward!”

Equine insurance company, Amlin Plus has put up a £7,000 prize money pool for the CIC2* class at Brightling Park Horse Trials.

“It is brilliant news that Amlin Plus has got involved in the sport to put up decent money for the CIC2* class,” said eventer Mark Todd. “It is hard to get sponsorship at the moment so great effort from Brightling Park to secure this support and I am sure riders will support the class.”

Celebrity make-up and hair stylist, Michael Ashton has secured sponsorship from Gatehouse, Rodney Powell and the Mark Todd Collection. The funding is to support his bid to qualify for British Eventing’s Grassroots Championships 2015.

“Michael spent his entire childhood on and around horses, rising up through the New Zealand Pony Club ranks and achieving great success on a string of horses,” said a spokesman from the company. “Aged 17, he finished third in the National Pony Club Eventing Championships before deciding to concentrate on his career in make-up and hair styling. Riding and horses remained a key interest and in 2012, Michael’s competitive spirit was re-ignited after spending time at Bedgebury Park in Kent. Now well established in his professional career, he decided it was time for another personal challenge and set his sights on BE’s Grassroots.”

Craig’s Motorcycles is sponsoring 17-year old carriage driver Tara Wilkinson.

“I am aiming to go to Poland this August to represent Team GB juniors,” said Tara. “I am the first carriage driver to be sponsored by a motor bike shop.”

Fenwick Equestrian is the first official sponsor of Team British Racing.

“Fenwick Equestrian is proud to be associated with Team British Racing and through the use of our high performance rugs, Fenwick will help maintain the wellbeing of its competitors around the world in all climates,” said Willhelmina McEwan from Fenwick Equestrian.

Event rider Bonnie Fishburn is being sponsored by Mirrors for Training.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have won the event rider sponsorship package from Mirrors for Training,” said Bonnie. “I had a school built in July 2013. Before that I had always trained my horses on grass, so to then go on and win some amazing mirrors was a dream come true! The majority of the time I ride alone at home and don’t have a great deal of help on the floor, so to be able to watch myself ride is so beneficial. I can look out for straightness, square halts, sitting up tall — the list just goes on.”

TopSpec is sponsoring this year’s Young Rider Dressage Championships at the Sheepgate under-25 Championships.

“TopSpec is proud to be supporting the Young Rider Championship. We have a growing loyal customer base with dressage clients and this is a great way to support young riders in the dressage world,” said Katy Mickle from TopSpec. “It is lovely to put some support back into the sport and we are looking forward to meeting existing and new clients at the championships.”

Leslie Sutcliffe has extended its sponsorship of dressage rider Daniel Watson.

“I am thrilled to receive the sponsorship of Farnam products, they will help keep my horses in top condition during the show season,” said Daniel.

Askham Bryan is sponsoring the British Eventing Young Rider Team and Programme. The agricultural college will support qualifying competitions and will also be the title sponsor of the 2014 National Under 21 Championships.

“I am delighted to welcome Askham Bryan to Houghton International as title sponsor of the 2014 U21 Championships,” said event organiser Alex Lochore. “For a college to sponsor the Young Riders Team and Programme is a perfect fit, and I hope that both the college and its students benefit from, and enjoy, the experience.”

Petplan Equine is the official sponsor of ring 2 at Hickstead this year.

“We know that horse owners are always seeking the latest information on how best to care for their horses and that the condition for which we receive the most claims, lameness, is of particular interest,” said Charlotte Collyer, senior marketing executive at Petplan Equine. “We are therefore extremely excited about being involved with Hickstead to share this knowledge with the venue’s large horse-owning audiences.”

Thinking about a career in the racing industry? Keen to learn more about what’s involved and what’s on offer? Then don’t miss the second annual “racing for jobs” day at Newmarket racecourse on Saturday 12 October.

The jobs fair takes place on Dubai Future Champions Day and a raft of organisations in the racing industry will be attending to offer advice to young people about careers in the sport.

They will include The Jockey Club, The National Stud, the British Racing School, Anglia Ruskin University, the British Horseracing Education and Standard Trust, the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s ‘Next Generation Club’, Careers in Racing, Great British Racing and Oxford Brookes University, plus Warwickshire College, Writtle College (Essex University) and Moulton College.

All students under 25 will be given free admission to the grandstand and paddock enclosure on the day.

Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket will also be offering an insight over brunch into Darley Flying Start, a two-year, international management training programme for future thoroughbred industry leaders.

Jockey Club Racecourses’, Amy Starkey, herself a graduate entrant into the racing industry, said: “We were delighted with the success of the first ‘racing for jobs’ event last year and it’s going to be bigger and better in 2013 when we showcase the career opportunities within racing for the student ‘future champions’ of tomorrow.”

Advance prices: £20.70 for the grandstand and paddock and £36 for the premier enclosure. Accompanied children under 18 are admitted free to all enclosures on the Rowley Mile. Students under 25 are admitted free on Dubai Future Champions Day.

For more information, visit: www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk.

Many Newmarket racing yards opened their doors to the public on Sunday 22 September, giving fans of all ages the chance to meet the equine stars of the racing world

Racing fans enjoyed going behind the scenes in the “home of horseracing” on Sunday (22 September) at the Newmarket open day.

Large crowds watched top horses work on Warren Hill in the morning. Among these were stars of the Flat season including John Gosden’s The Fugue (pictured above), owned by the Lloyd-Webbers, who won the Yorkshire Oaks and Irish Champion Stakes recently.

Others showing off their speed were Riposte, Caspar Netscher, Premio Loco, High Jinx and Elusice Kate (above).

Popular mare Snow Fairy (below) also paraded for her fans. Trained by Ed Dunlop, she won six Group Ones before she retired in July.

Visitors of all ages had the chance to look around top yards and meet their equine heroes.

As well as watching horses go for a swim at Clive Brittain’s yard.

And the afternoon activities were popular with the Shetland pony Grand National taking centre stage.

The trainers v jockeys football match also proved entertaining, with the jockeys showing off their agility by winning 3-0. Goals were scored by Neil Callan, Marc Halford and Martin Lane and the team was managed by TV presenter, and racehorse owner, Jeremy Kyle.

“We were absolutely delighted with the turn out for Betfair Newmarket Open Day,” said Johnno Spence of JSC, the event organiser.

“It was fantastic to see top horses on the gallops and such a buzz in the yards. We hope we have made lots of money for three fantastic charities, New Astley Club, The British Racing School and the National Horseracing Museum.”

For more information visit: www.newmarketopenday.co.uk.

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Work will start on a new racing heritage centre in Newmarket next month, after £15m has been raised to support the project.

The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing Sporting Art will be at Palace House Stables, once the site of King Charles II’s court.

The new centre will replace the Racing Museum on Newmarket High Street. Construction is expected to start in September, with the aim of opening in late 2015. Funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, grants and private donations.

“Our mission is to protect the heritage of horseracing by preserving its past, celebrating its present and safeguarding its future,” said Christopher Tregoning, the Museum’s honorary treasurer.

The news was announced at Banstead Manor Stud earlier this month (9 July) at a stallion parade— featuring Frankel — in support of the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket.

It will also house collections of the British Sporting Art Trust, act as a new shop window for Retraining of Racehorses (RoR).

Peter Jensen, chairman of the Home of Horseracing Trust added: “I am delighted that we reached our £15m fundraising target which allows us to start building at the Palace House site.

“I must thank our founding and major donors (including Prince Khalid) many of whom have supported us from the very earliest days of the project.

“I would also like to take the opportunity this evening to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for his support, who’s generosity has now taken us over the line and will allow us to award the building contract later this month.”

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First there was the Kauto Star bar at Kempton. Now unbeaten superstar Frankel is being honoured with his own mini museum and bar at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse.

Frankel is currently standing at his owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah’s Banstead Manor Stud at a covering fee of £125,000. But now fans who want to relive his career will be able to eat and drink in the “Frankel Room”, which will also be packed with memorabilia.

Newmarket announced last week that the Frankel Room will be officially opened on Saturday, 28 September, the day of the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes — a race that Frankel won in 2010.

It will take the place of what was the Paddock Bar, next to the weighing-room.

“Newmarket racecourses feels a special affinity towards Frankel [he won once at the July course and twice at the Rowley Mile],” said Amy Starkey, regional director of the Jockey Club.

“We wanted to celebrate his career in a suitably memorable manner. The idea of a Frankel Room — an exhibition of his brilliance and the people around him — had an enduring appeal.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (18 April 2013)

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Megan Nicholls, daughter of champion National Hunt trainer Paul, has been crowned 2012 pony racing champion in the 148cm series, held at Newmarket racecourse this weekend (Saturday 6 October).

Lorcan Williams on Stretcholt Hermes won the 138cm series.

Twelve budding young jockeys qualifed for each of the finals, through the 2012 Charles Owen Pony Racing series that has been running since April.

Megan and her pony Wotarisk were unbeaten this season.

Second in the 148cm final was Sean Bowen and Cudlic Verona, third Charlotte Greenaway and Miss Wonderful.

In the 138cm final Jamie Perrett on Dillan’s Girl was a close second and third was Charlie Todd on Little Anne.

“The finals at Newmarket were a fitting end to a tremendous series,” said Rebecca Davies of the Pony Racing Authority.

“Lorcan and Megan were worthy winners, and the young riders are focusing on next season already! Point-to-point pony racing begins early in the New Year and we look forward to another exciting year ahead.”

For more information visit: www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk

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Budding jockeys will make a bid to be crowned 2012 pony racing champions tomorrow (Saturday 6 October) at Newmarket racecourse.

Twelve jockeys have qualified for each final – 138cm and under and 148cm and under – since the start of this year’s series in April.

“The 2012 Charles Owen pony racing finals are the culmination of the best part of a year’s hard work for many riders,” said the Pony Racing Authority’s Rebecca Davies .

“Newmarket are kindly hosting the finals for the first time, and I know the two races will be hotly contested.”

Among the jockeys racing is last year’s 138cm champion Charlotte Greenway, who will be going for the double. And battling it out for the 148cm title will be National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls’ daughter Megan and flat trainer James Fanshawe’s son Tom.

Newmarket’s Michael Prosser said: “”We are delighted to be staging the finals as we’ve always been staunch advocates of the Pony Racing Authrotiy and of the series.

“This Saturday sees us hosting a high-class racing programme and so the accompanying pony racing finals provide a great opportunity for the young riders to perform on a big stage.”

Pony racing was formally introduced in Britain in 2004 to encourage more young people to consider a career as a jockey.

For more information visit www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk and www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk

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After spending 12 years with leading bloodstock companies, including Coolmore, Darley and Juddmonte, Richard Knight is setting up on his own.

Richard, who is based in Newmarket, is offering foal, yearling and mare purchase services, plus mating plans, nomination booking and racehorse management.

Richard says he gained “first-class all-round experience of the bloodstock industry” through working on the stud farms at Coolmore and Highclere and the advertising and nominations departments at Darley and Juddmonte.

“This experience has already proved itself,” he said.

“From a small amount of horses purchased to date I have bought Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Up In Time, who was bought as a yearling.”

Another purchase was Brazen, bought by Richard for 40,000 guineas as a foal and sold for 80,000 guineas as a yearling. Brazen recently won his two-year-old maiden by six lengths.

For more information visit www.richardknightbloodstock.com or telephone 07769-349240.

A Conservative politician – who had never ridden in a race before – won Newmarket’s one-mile charity race on Saturday (18 August).

West Suffolk’s Member of Parliament Matthew Hancock rode Dick Doughtywylie – trained by John Gosden – in the Blue Square Cavalry Charge.

The race was the main feature of Saturday’s Horsemen and Heroes Day, in aid of Racing Welfare and The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund. Nearly £100,000 was raised in total for the charities.

“Three months ago I needed to lose two stone, get fit and learn how to handle a racehorse,” said Mr Hancock.

“I’ve had a huge amount of help, most of all from the stable staff of the yards that I’ve ridden out for – they were brilliant.”

Mr Hancock prepared for his racing debut at the British Racing School and with the help of Newmarket trainers Michael Bell and John Gosden.

He won the race by two lengths, with ex-jockey Niall Hannity on Advanced in second and Racing Welfare officer Marianne Dacombe on Grecian Goddess in third.

Newmarket’s director of racing Michael Prosser was impressed with the MP’s performance.

“With half a furlong to go he didn’t flap, he just continued to drive with his hands and heels,” he said.

“It was not the performance you would expect to see from someone in their first ever race.”

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They are usually the preserve of Trekkies and Star Wars fans – but now aficionados of model horses are to get their own three-day convention.

“Utterly Horses Hullabaloo” has been 10 years in the planning and organisers say the event, at The National Stud in Newmarket (24-26 August), will be the UK’s in one place.

Indeed, it will be a “model horse Mecca”, claims the woman in charge, Becky Benfield.

“We have visitors travelling far and wide to attend – the furthest being from the USA and Norway,” she told H&H.

Fans can try their hand at painting and “showing” their own horses and meet professional model horse artists, while more than 3,000 models will be on sale, including some vintage and limited edition ones.

With prices for some rare models reaching four or even five figures, this is definitely not one for the kids…

For more information visit www.utterlyhorses.com.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (10 August 2012)

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Actors, a politician and members of the racing community will be donning silks next month for the first charity race at Newmarket’s July Course, in aid of Racing Welfare and The Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund (HCOCF).

Amongst the twelve amateur riders taking part in “The Blue Square Charity Cavalry Charge” on 18 August is the Merlin and Inspector Lynley actor Nathaniel Parker.

“‘Poor horse’ seems to be the expression in most people’s eyes as I tell them I am riding in a race,” said Nathaniel, who has been riding out for trainer Kim Bailey in preparation.

“There was no way I could miss out on the opportunity to ride at Newmarket, the HQ of thoroughbred racing.

“As a patron of Racing Welfare I hope to raise awareness of the work done by this charity.”

Each jockey must raise a minimum of £5,000 for the race, which will be the largest fundraising element of the “Horsemen and Heroes Day“.

Racing Welfare’s Richard Negus said: “We are delighted that Newmarket Racecourse chose to support us and the HCOCF.

“The race will be a huge amount of fun for the racegoers, but no small challenge for the riders. Our intrepid amateurs are really putting themselves through it to raise some serious money.”

Racing Welfare is the sole provider of support to UK racing and stud staff.

And the HCOCF aims to provide financial and emotional support to injured Household Cavalry soldiers and their families,including those who have lost their lives in service.

Jockeys riding are:

Nathaniel Parker

Malcolm Tomlinson

Matthew Hancock MP

Niall Hannity

Marianne Dacombe

Annalea Parker

Kim Pullon

Harriet Bond

Maurice McCarthy

Hayley O’Connor

Ken Clutterbuck

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Click here for Runners, Tips and Free Bets on the Grand National 2012

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)

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Stable waste created by the hundreds of racehorses based in Newmarket could soon be heating schools and hospitals.

A proposal has been put forward by Jockey Club Estates to build a recycling plant to turn the waste stable products – manure and soiled bedding – into fuel and fertiliser at a plant

in Newmarket.

It aims to recycle 5,000tonne of the 25,000tonne of stable waste created in Newmarket annually.

The Jockey Club has been working for around 18 months on the plan with European firm GG Eco Solutions.

The company specialises in converting organic waste material into dry biomass fuel and fertiliser.

Another by-product of the waste would be 2,000tonne of water, which would be used to irrigate woodland, paddocks and Jockey Club Estates’ grounds.

“The scheme uses stable waste and turns it into granular fertiliser and compressed biomass pellets,” William Gittus from Jockey Club Estates told H&H.

“Currently, the waste is taken to power stations out of the area at a considerable cost to training yards – in some cases, around £30,000 a year.

This plan aims to reduce costs considerably, but will also substantially decrease lorry movements in the town.”

A planning application has now been submitted to install a recycling plant at Southfield Farm, off Hamilton Road in Newmarket.

Suffolk County Council is considering the application and a decision will be announced on 9 January.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (5 January 2012)

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Two Newmarket racehorses – named after the last British veterans of the Great War – have helped to launch this year’s Poppy Appeal in Suffolk.

“Harry Patch” and “Henry Allingham” are seen here with Harry’s owner, Gay Jarvis [widow of the late trainer, Michael] and cadets from The Queen’s Royal Lancers Detachment, based in Ipswich.

“Harry” was bought by the Newmarket-based owner and trainer, Michael Jarvis, who died last month.

He decided to name “Harry” after the war veteran, because the horse was bought during the Poppy Appeal in 2007.

“Harry Patch was alive then,” said Mrs Jarvis, “so we wrote to him at his nursing home and asked permission. He was thrilled.

“Our Harry won his first two races, so we sent Mr Patch a picture – and he sent us one back of him in all his medals, holding up the picture of the horse!”

“Henry”, Harry’s chestnut half-brother, is owned by Richie Baines. A “rather immature two-year-old”, he has not yet run his first race.

Mrs Jarvis told H&H that both horses behaved impeccably at the photoshoot.

“They were incredible. We put poppies on their bridles and the cadets – who weren’t used to horses – were giggling away as the horses nibbled their hair,” she said.

“Like all racehorses, they loved the attention. I hope the picture encourages everyone to give generously to the Poppy Appeal.”

Nationwide, the British Legion is seeking to reach a record-breaking target of £40 million for the armed forces.

The real Harry and Henry were the last two veterans of the First World War in the UK. Harry Patch, the last British “Tommy”, fought in the trenches of Flanders and was wounded at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. He died in July 2009, aged 111.

Henry Allingham, who also died in July 2009 – aged 113 – served in the Royal Navy during the First World War and was a founder member of the RAF.

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Frankel put up an astonishing performance to win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket today. The Henry Cecil-trained colt went to the front as soon as he broke from the stalls and stayed there, making all the running to take the first Classic of the season by six lengths.

Frankel drew further and further ahead of the other 12 Guineas runners – he was at least a dozen lengths in front at one stage – and just idled a touch when unchallenged in the final furlong, allowing Dubawi Gold, trained by Richard Hannon, to fight into second six lengths behind him at 33-1. It was one of the most brilliant performances ever seen in a Classic race.

Third by half a length was the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan, winner of the Craven Stakes here earlier in the month. It was a further 11 lengths back to the 200-1 shot Slim Shadey in fourth.

It gave Henry Cecil a 25th British Classic triumph. His first was Bolkonski in the 2000 Guineas in 1975. Frankel’s jockey, 26-year-old Tom Queally, was having his first ride in the race.

“He did it better than I ever thought he would,” said Queally. “The one thing that this horse can definitely do is gallop, and why take him back and prevent him from galloping? We’ll let him do what he enjoys doing but, by God, he showed them.”

Frankel, a son of Galileo out of the Danehill mare Kind, is owned and bred by Khalid Abdulla, who also won the 2000 Guineas with Known Fact, Dancing Brave and Zafonic. His latest Classic winner – his 11th in Britain – was named after the great American trainer Bobby Frankel, who trained the Saudi prince’s horse in the United States and who died of leukemia in November 2009.

After remaining unbeaten in his five previous races, including last year’s Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Frankel started odds-on at 1-2. Connections have stated that they will see how he comes out of the race before deciding on a next aim – he is entered in the Dante Stakes at York, traditionally the most significant Derby trial. The dramatic speed and acceleration he showed today may mean that the extra half-mile of the Derby is beyond him, in which case the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot would be the natural target.

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This past week has been very busy, extremely tough and also jubilant.

The week began with Littlemisssunshine (pictured right) being scanned to check whether she had ovulated after her covering. She had, and will be checked again later in the month.

There was also good news from the vets. If you can remember from last week’s episode we finished on Beinn Tharsuinn having only a 5% chance of survival. Once again my thanks must go to Simon Waterhouse and the team at Newmarket Equine Hospital as Beinn Tharsuinn is now home and has been given a bill of fit health. It has been commented on that this two-year-old colt by Balmont has the constitution of an iron bar. To be honest, it is a miracle that he is still alive.

On Wednesday morning Cotton King, our stable champion, was to give one of Ed Walker’s horses a helping hand in a gallop. However, Cotton King did not approve of this arrangement and in hindsight was showing signs of being over the top. I had just thought it part of his quirky character. In the evening we scoped and took blood from him, just to make sure that there was nothing amiss. The results came back on Thursday morning. He was – in veterinary terms – perfect.

Celebrating an epic day’s hunting

Thursday evening was one of great interest and one fairly close to my heart. My surrogate godfather, Robin Smith-Ryland, had organised a centennial dinner for Frank Freeman’s famous hunt with the Pytchley hounds crossing most of the Grafton country, the Badby Wood Run. There were descendants of both Lord Annaly, the master at the time, and Frank Freeman, who hunted the hounds.

A century ago professional huntsmen were the football stars of their day and Mr Freeman would have probably put Wayne Rooney or David Beckham into the shade with his popularity. The evening was a great success as it had drawn people from all over the country, including some of the best hunt servants in today’s scene.

Cotton King is over the top

After Cotton King had been given the all clear from the vets we took our chance in a Class 4 1 mile 6 furlongs race at Wolverhampton on Saturday. He was, from the offset, too keen, a typical sign of being over the top, and finished a laborious last. This is nothing to do with the horse but a failure on the trainer’s part to heed to his warnings. The lesson has duly been learnt. Cotton King is going for a well-deserved break before returning for a late summer campaign on the grass.

My poor parents!

Sunday brought with it a bolt from the blue. The owner of one of my nicer two-year-old colts telephoned, and due to circumstances outside my control, said that he was unhappy.

On Monday my parents arrived to give me a proper luncheon before the onset of a tricky week. They did somewhat bear the brunt of my temper as every bit of grief and pressure my owner had given me, I re-laid twice as hard on my parents (well, what else are they for!) However, even I did feel a little sorry for them as I had been positively vile.

Some senior members of the foxhunting world turned out in force on Tuesday morning to see Brent Pelham, possibly the most viewed charge in Newmarket!

On Wednesday morning I received a text informing me that Amoure Medici was being picked up by another Newmarket trainer. The frustration was paramount as the reason behind the horse’s departure was nothing to do with me. But there was nothing for it except to dust oneself off and keep going. The person who I felt really sorry for was the unwavering Sammy, as this striking Medicean colt had been her ride since arriving in the yard.

Go Nelly, go!

On a brighter note, it was Keyaza’s day to meet with destiny. As the papers had described she was the pick on paper, being out of a Yorkshire Oaks winner, and half-sister to a Grade One hurdle winner. She is somewhat rather large, well super-model-like really. She has long legs and a long neck. This does not sound very becoming but in fact she is well-proportioned. The young Trevor Whelan had the ride and was particularly understanding of his orders and courteous with my owners.

“Nelly The Elephant”, as she is slightly unkindly known, was rather green to post and slightly keen in the early stages of the race, but Mr Whelan settled her well and rode to instructions. Coming off the bend into the home straight he found himself an ever-increasing four lengths clear. Nelly The Elephant had won her first start by an easy twelve lengths. Maybe she won’t be packing her bag just yet!

As one friend suggested, it is 363 days until next year’s Cheltenham… We can but dream.

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A runaway racehorse shocked onlookers in Newmarket earlier this week when it escaped onto the High Street.

The police were called at 11.20am on Monday (14 June) as the horse galloped down the road before being caught outside Innocence nightclub.

“We were told there was a loose horse running up the High Street towards the Cambridge end with a jockey in pursuit,” a police spokesman told H&H.

“We didn’t have much involvement though as it was handled quickly by stablelads.”

Police said the horse is in training with Sir Michael Stoute but a spokesman from the yard declined to comment nor name the horse.

Onlooker Nicola Rayner told local press: “It was going like a bat out of hell straight down the High Street.”

“It was lucky it didn’t hit anyone or injure itself, it’s not something that you see every day.”

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Newmarket is so steeped in horseracing, that even the town’s Roman Catholic church has teamed up with a bookies.

Our Lady and St Etheldreda’s Church announced last Tuesday (27 April) that its confessional will be sponsored by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.

Paddy Power is paying £10,000 to sponsor the “sin bin” after being approached by the church.

“It’s a great fit to sponsor a confessional in a church nestled in the galloping heart of British horseracing,” said company founder Paddy Power.

“We hope that over time confessing your sins in the Paddy Power confessional will become a tradition for Newmarket racegoers.”

Top Flat jockey Frankie Dettori, who was married in the church, was the first to make his confession.

Parish priest Father Michael Griffin said the congregation hoped to refit the church, but was struggling financially, so the sponsorship is very welcome.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (6 May, ’10)

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