Be prepared for a thrilling season at the Home of Horseracing in 2019
Discover Newmarket is gearing up for the start of another fantastic season in the Home of Horseracing. As the town’s official tour guide, Discover Newmarket offers world-class, exclusive tours which take the public behind the scenes in the headquarters of thoroughbred breeding, racing and training as well as offering the chance to explore all that the town has to offer.
Newmarket has a rich heritage and links to a fascinating royal history having been home to the sporting palaces of King James I and King Charles II as well as being able to offer several top attractions that contribute to making a visit to the town a memorable one.
On the 18th February, The National Stud will once again throw open its gates to allow visitors to get up close and personal with some of the future champions of the racecourse and discover how these racehorses are born and raised.
Discover Newmarket’s guided tours at the only commercial Stud Farm open to the public in the UK have new timings for 2019 which will give visitors more time to spend in the 500-acre estate. This is your opportunity to see the impressive stallions and spend time with the mares and foals in the paddocks.
The newly revamped Wavertree’s Coffee Shop is also ready to welcome visitors for the new tour season and is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast, light lunch or a decadent slice of cake for afternoon tea.
Witness the thrill of the sale and history in the making as Thoroughbreds are sold for millions of Guineas at the oldest and most prolific bloodstock auctioneers in the world, Tattersalls as part of several tour dates to this historic venue in 2019.
Go behind the scenes at a top trainer’s yard, learn what it takes to train, nurture and create champions from trainers such as John Gosden, Sir Mark Prescott, Marco Botti, Rae Guest, Charlie Fellowes and Ed Dunlop to name a few.
Travel back in time and walk in the footsteps of King Charles II as you see where horseracing began and how it has shaped the world at Palace House, the home of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art. Spanning five acres in the heart of Newmarket, Palace House is situated in the remnants of King Charles II’s sporting palace and stables. The Heritage Centre comprises of three complementary attraction: The National Horseracing Museum, the Fred Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art and the flagship yard for the Retraining of Racehorses Charity which offers visitors the chance to meet former racehorses as they progress into their new careers after racing.
A trip to Newmarket wouldn’t be complete without seeing champions in action on the track. Discover Newmarket’s Race Day Tours take you behind the scenes at either the Rowley Mile or July Course allowing you access into areas of the racecourse not normally open to the public. Get a taste of what it is like behind the scenes as an owner, trainer and jockey before enjoying a marvellous day at the races.
With a host of tours designed to give you an in-depth insight and taste of the world of horseracing, Discover Newmarket is perfect for residents, racing enthusiasts, travel lovers, groups and those new to racing. You don’t have to love horseracing to love Newmarket!
Newmarket is also perfectly situated among the cultural hubs of Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds while also being in close proximity to London making it the perfect excuse to escape the city and head for the Suffolk countryside.
There are several options hosted throughout the year by expert tour guides that are not to be missed, including the ever-popular Short Head and Country Mile Tours. These tours are made up of half or full-days that take visitors to exclusive, rarely seen top trainers’ yards, the gallops in the morning and to other iconic locations.
If you’re after a sweet treat, why not book the Champagne Afternoon Tea and Tour? Walk in the footsteps of royalty, politicians and other key historical figures. Experience the prestigious member’s only club, The Jockey Club Rooms, and indulge in a full, traditional afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings.
