Queen to open Newmaket’s National Heritage Centre
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.
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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.”
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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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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.