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Newmarket is a market town in the English county of Suffolk, approximately 65 miles (105 kilometres) north of London, which has become famous because of its connection with race horses and thoroughbred horse racing at Newmarket Racecourse. It is the largest racehorse training centre in Britain, and home to several horseracing institutions. Nine of the UK's 32 Group 1 flat races are held at Newmarket, the same number as at Ascot.
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About Newmarket
Twin Towns
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Racing at Newmarket
Racing at Newmarket has been dated as far back as 1174, making it the earliest known racing venue of post-classical times. The town boasts two magnificent racecourses - The July Course and the Rowley Mile Course. The Jockey Clubs has its clubhouse in Newmarket, though its administration is based in London. In 1967 Queen Elizabeth II opened The National Stud, a breeding centre for thoroughbred horses. The town is also home to Tattersalls, the famous bloodstock auctioneers, The National Horseracing Museum, an Equine Centre for horse health and The British Racing School. | |||
 Jockeys at Newmarket Races |
 Tattersalls - The Bloodstock Auctioneers | ||
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The town has a network of special horse walks so that horses can reach the gallops safely from the many training establishments. More than 2,500 race horses inhabit Newmarket. By comparison, the human population is of the order of 15,000 and it is estimated that one in four jobs are connected to horseracing in one way or another. Newmarket has 3 main sections of Heath, all of which are used to train the racehorses on. "Racecourse side" is located next to the Rowley Mile Racecourse and is a predominately flat area. "Warren Hill" overlooks the town and consists of 3 all weather canters and a multitude of grass canters. "Bury Side" is the name given to the area located near the Bury Road and the Railway Line. These areas and the surrounding heath is chalk downland and is home to an array of birds and animals only suited to this terrain. | |||
 When horsewalk meets road |
 Horses Gallop on Newmarket Heath | ||
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Most of the Newmarket-based racing stables are situated in the centre of the town, where they can easily access the gallops. Outside the town the land-use is dominated by thoroughbred breeding, studs occupying large areas in every direction. Around 70 licensed trainers and more than 60 stud farms operate in and around Newmarket. Dalham Hall Stud (the headquarters of Darley), Cheveley Park Stud (which local lore claims was once owned by King Canute), and Banstead Manor Stud (Headquarters of Juddmonte Farms) are well-known examples which can be found in the village of Cheveley. The town has two race courses situated on Newmarket Heath. These are the Rowley Mile and the July Course. The two courses are separated by the Devil's Dyke. This large Anglo-Saxon earthwork starts in neighbouring Woodditton (sometimes spelt as Wood Ditton) and ends in Reach, a distance of over 8 miles (13 km). The Rowley Mile is used for racing in the Spring and Autumn, while the July Course is used in Summer. The Rowley Mile has a grass strip used by light aircraft, and formerly by the RAF as RAF Newmarket. | |||
 Southfield Stables Horse Pool |
 Foals at one of Newmarkets many studs | ||
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Geography
The area of Suffolk containing Newmarket is nearly an exclave, with only a narrow strip of territory linking it to the rest of the county. Historically the town was split with one parish - St Mary - in Suffolk, and the other - All Saints - in Cambridgeshire. The Local Government Act 1888 made the entirety of Newmarket urban sanitary district part of the administrative county of West Suffolk. The 1972 Local Government Bill as originally proposed would have transferred the town to Cambridgeshire. The Local Government Commission for England had suggested in the 1960s that the border around Newmarket also be altered, in West Suffolk's favour. Newmarket Urban District Council supported the move to Cambridgeshire, but ultimately the government decided to withdraw this proposal and keep the existing boundary, despite lobbying from the Urban Distict Council. | |||
