Photo Credit: Dominic James

Following His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen’s first official visit to Newmarket as Sovereign and Queen, The Jockey Club has launched The Jockey Club Patrons Scholarship, an initiative supporting young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds to start careers in horseracing.

Their Majesties are both Honorary Members and joint Patrons of The Jockey Club, British racing’s largest commercial organisation and employer, and Her Majesty is Patron of its breeding and education arm, The National Stud.

Today (Tuesday 22nd July) The King and Queen visited Newmarket, the Home of Horseracing, to see firsthand the work undertaken by both, and to meet local dignitaries and representatives of a number of organisations and charities in the local community.

Their Majesties began their visit at The National Stud, which offers industry-leading stud services including four resident stallions and the foaling of more than 100 Thoroughbreds each year. The National Stud delivers a comprehensive education and training programme for learners at all levels, with particular focus on Thoroughbred breeding and stud work.

Their Majesties were received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence, and introduced to The National Stud’s Chairman, Lord Grimthorpe, and CEO, Anna Kerr, before meeting other members of the team and Board, along with representatives from a number of racing charities and trusts.

The stud’s four resident stallions - Lope Y Fernandez, Bradsell, Rajasinghe, and Stradivarius - were paraded before Their Majesties and The Queen, an avid supporter of literature, was also introduced to Katie Longbottom and Katie Fleming, author and illustrator of The National Stud storybooks which are in development and aim to encourage young children’s interest in horses from an early age. Their Majesties also planted two trees and unveiled a plaque to mark the visit.

Moving on to the King Edward VII Memorial Hall, Their Majesties were introduced to members of local community groups and representatives from businesses and the health and education sectors to hear about initiatives, charitable work and programmes designed to support
Newmarket residents. Among those present at the King Edward VII Memorial Hall was Mark Ashton, Chairman of Ipswich Town Football Club.

Their Majesties then met local residents and well-wishers on Newmarket’s High Street, along with members of The Jockey Club Estates team responsible for maintaining thousands of acres of world class training grounds in the town and ‘Heath Medics’ who provide medical support and care throughout the year.
The King and Queen were escorted to The Jockey Club Rooms - a symbolic and historic building which has been at the heart of British horseracing since the middle of the 18th Century - by Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston, and presented to the Deputy Lieutenant, Peter Stanley.

In 2024, the King and Queen became Joint Patrons of The Jockey Club, an organisation which began as a club promoting good fellowship among racing and Thoroughbred breeding enthusiasts. In 1752 The Jockey Club leased a plot of land in Newmarket where a Coffee House was constructed as a meeting place for the Club’s members. On the expiration of the lease, The Jockey Club bought the freehold, which is known today as The Jockey Club Rooms.

Housing one of the finest collections of equine art and countless historical artefacts presented by members over the years, The Jockey Club Rooms now offers accommodation for both members and non-members, as well as conference and event facilities, and is home to The Jockey Club Estates team in Newmarket.

Baroness Dido Harding of Winscombe, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, greeted Their Majesties on arrival at The Jockey Club Rooms, before escorting them to the Committee Room, where there they met representatives from The National Horseracing Museum, British Sporting Art and Newmarket Community Foundation. The Queen is Patron of The National Horseracing Museum and a selection of artefacts from its extensive collection were made available to view.

Around 60 Members of The Jockey Club were present at The Jockey Club Rooms to meet The King and Queen and a commemorative photograph was taken of the Royal visit on the lawn at the rear of the building.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of The Jockey Club for 68 years right up until her death in September 2022 and towards the end of the visit Their Majesties viewed artist Paul Benney’s painting of Queen Elizabeth II with her 2013 Gold Cup winner Estimate, which is on display in The Jockey Club Rooms.

Their Majesties were also informed of the launch of The Jockey Club Patrons Scholarship, which is to be delivered in partnership by The National Stud and the British Racing School. The new initiative will provide access to careers in racing to those from diverse ethnic communities, working with organisations such as The Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, London.

Two students will be selected each year for the next three years from the diversity recruitment pathway and trained at The National Stud and the British Racing School.

Baroness Harding, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, said: “It was a great honour to welcome The King and Queen to Newmarket today. Their Majesties became The Jockey Club’s joint Patrons last year and it has been our privilege to introduce them to those working in and supporting our sport right in the heartland of British racing.

“As racehorse owners and breeders Their Majesties are already extremely knowledgeable about the industry and today provided an opportunity to celebrate its success and pay tribute to its extensive heritage, while also demonstrating the role The Jockey Club and our industry plays in the town of Newmarket and the local community.

“Looking to the future, the launch of The Jockey Club Patrons Scholarship provides a lasting legacy from today’s visit and offers a fantastic opportunity to those from diverse ethnic backgrounds who may not otherwise have considered a career in the horseracing industry.”

Anna Kerr, CEO of The National Stud, said: “The National Stud was officially opened by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1967 and it is such a significant moment in our history to welcome Their Majesties here 58 years later.

“Our business activity is connected to all within the Thoroughbred industry – from breeders and trainers to third party providers and the industry’s colleagues of the future, our students.

“It has been truly wonderful to celebrate that community with our Royal Patrons today and to see how Their Majesties share our own passion for a thriving Thoroughbred industry for generations to come.”